German minor girl:They wanted to chop my neck: Aires Rodrigues

They wanted to chop my neck: Aires Rodrigues
Panaji: Advocate and activist Aires Rodrigues on Tuesday alleged that he was attacked the previous night because he had gathered evidence against eduction minister Atanasio Monserrate and his son. Rodrigues said, “I was attacked a night before we were supposed to produce the evidence before the police.”
Masked assailants had attacked Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande in a Panaji restaurant late on Monday. Recollecting the attack, a visibly shaken Rodrigues said, “As threats and persuasion didn’t work, it appears that the minister in frustration sent his goons to attack and eliminate me. When I, with friends, was having chicken xacuti at the restaurant, five or six masked men barged in and attacked me with knives and swords. They wanted to chop my neck, but I ducked and they cut my fingers. With my fingers hanging I was admitted to the hospital.”
Rodrigues who had been administered anaesthesia thrice was a bit dizzy, but put up a brave front. “Nothing will cow us down. Even if we have to lay our life for the cause of a brave mother, it will be a small sacrifice,” said Rodrigues.Rodrigues admitted that he had received phone calls from people in highly placed positions, as well as Babush’s friends asking him not to pursue the matter.
“They also tried to persuade the mother to drop the case. But she wants to pursue it. She wants to ensure that what has happened to her daughter, doesn’t happen to anybody else’s daughter,” added Rodrigues.
The police have posted security outside Rodrigues’ house in Ribandar. A Maruti car, in which the alleged accused travelled has been attached. Police sources said that the car was parked about 30 mts from the place where the attack took place.

3 held for assasult
The police have arrested three persons for Monday night’s attack on activist and advocate Aires Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande. Anthony Barreto and Normon John alias Bocho from Taleigao, and Sandeep Vaigankar from Tonca were arrested on Tuesday and remanded to seven days police custody. The three are also accused of attacking the Panaji police station in February. Police are not ruling out Monserrate’s involvement in the attack. “We are investigating the matter,” said the SP (north). TNN

October 15,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition