Police case against probe officials

Police case against probe officials
TNN

PANAJI: Almost three months after a home guard at Panaji’s police headquarters lodged a complaint against forest personnel for wrongful confinement and causing grievous injury, Valpoi police on Wednesday registered a case against three forest officials.

Police have booked an offence under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) read with sec 34 (common intention) of the IPC against assistant conservator of forests Anil Shetgaonkar, and range forest officers Paresh Parab and Tushidas Wadkar.

“We have registered the case and will be investigating strictly on merit,” said SP North Bosco George. Suryakant Majik in his complaint to the Valpoi police stated that he was beaten by the forest officials, which resulted in “grievous and serious” injuries. The complaint filed on May 27, notes that though he and his family had cooperated with the forest officials, they gave “animal like treatment” to him and his father.

“This act ...is illegal and inhuman and is punishable under the eyes of law” said Majik in his complaint. Majik was allegedly picked up by forest officials investigating the killing of a tiger at Keri village in February 2009, but police sources say that forest officials informed them that they had not arrested Majik.

This was in fact noted by the judicial magistrate first class, Valpoi, in an order dated May 23 on a bail application filed by Majik.

August 27,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition