Aires attacked in Panaji hotel

Aires attacked in Panaji hotel
Masked Men Chop Off Fingers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK Panaji: Advocate Aires Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande were brutally assaulted by masked assailants in a Panaji hotel late Monday night.
According to advocate Jatin Naik, who was with the duo in Hotel Ashok, 5-6 assailants armed with a sword and knives, entered the premises around 10.30
and and asked for Rodrigues. Once he identified himself, the lawyer was attacked. Rodrigues, who lost two fingers on his right hand in the attack, and Sakhardande, with grievous head injuries, were admitted to Campal Clinic. Rodrigues is counsel for a German woman who has alleged that a minister’s son has been sending obscene SMSs to her minor daughter.

Aires didn’t say he was being threatened: SP George
Panaji: Advocate Aires Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande were attacked by masked miscreants on Monday night. Noted physician and activist Oscar Rebello, who was at Campal Clinic when Rodrigues and Sakhardande were rushed in, said, “Rodrigues was brought in soaked in blood. He had stab wounds. He has been taken to the operation theatre. Two fingers of his right hand have been chopped off and he has injuries on the head.”
Advocate Jatin Naik, who was with Rodrigues but had just gone out for a while, said, “When I was returning to my table I saw six or seven masked men telling each other in Konkani that ‘this is Aires who is creating trouble’ and they started attacking him. In the process Sakhardande, who was sitting next to Rodrigues was also severely injured.”
Eyewitnesses said Rodrigues, once attacked, ran into the hotel’s toilet and remained there till the assailants left. After Rodrigues ran into the toilet, the assailants started smashing bottles. The owner of the hotel had to plead with them to stop damaging his property.
SP (North) Bosco George, who visited the scene of the crime in the night, said investigations were on. He said Rodrigues had spoken to him 20 minutes before the assault but had not said he was being threatened.
Rodrigues’s friends who were with him at the hospital believe he had been attacked for supporting the German woman. Rodrigues was to meet George along with the woman and her child on Tuesday with all details against the minister’s son.
“If the police fail to act and arrest the accused within 24 hours, we would be forced to approach the human rights commission,” said Naik.

October 14,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition