Rohit says he was in Mumbai, Pune
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Although the German minor girl has claimed in her statement that she had had sex with Rohit Monserrate, the education minister’s son has denied any physical relationship with her.
He told the police that he knew the minor and admitted that she is a friend. Besides that, he had no relation with her, Rohit told the police.
Responding to queries from police on whether he had sent the “obscene” SMSs to the minor, Rohit said that he often left his mobile on the table and anyone could have used it.
In his four-page statement to the police on Saturday, hours before the girl gave her statement to the Mapusa court, Rohit reportedly said he was in Pune and Mumbai between October 14 (when the police booked cases against him) and November 1 (when he gave his statement to the police) checking out on a dealership for Audi cars.
SP (North) Bosco George refused to divulge any information on the contents of the minor’s statement and simply said, “Our duty is to collect as much evidence as possible to ensure that the case goes up for trial. In spite of all the difficulties we are facing from the complainant and minor daughter, we are trying our best to collect as much evidence as possible.”
George added, “We are still interrogating Rohit and have nothing to reveal.”
November 06, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Rohit gets 3-day police custody
Rohit gets 3-day police custody
Children’s Court Fixes Case For Hearing On November 7
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio Monserratte’s son Rohit, who was arrested on Tuesday on charges of raping a minor German girl, was remanded to three days police custody by the judicial magistrate first class, Mapusa, even as he approached the children’s court seeking bail.
Meanwhile, the high court of Bombay at Goa, which had taken suo moto cognizance of the lethargic police investigations into the case, noted on Wednesday that some progress has been made.
Judge P V Kamat, in-charge of the children’s
court set up under the Goa Children’s Act, 2005 to deal with offences committed against minors, issued notices to the prosecution for their reply and fixed the matter for hearing at 2.30 pm on November 7.
Rohit, in his bail application submitted through his lawyers, said that the case was based on assumptions. He claimed that his further custody was no longer required as police have carried out investigations and necessary medical examinations. He also said that a false case has been slapped on him and he was willing to stand trial to prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, justice N A Britto of the high court noted that the girl’s statement and medical examination and Rohit’s arrest—information filed by SP (north) Bosco George in his affidavit— showed that some progress had been made in the case.
On October 24, the high court had suo motu taken cognizance of the lethargy on the part of the police in arresting the accused and had treated the case as a public interest litigation (PIL). The police were ordered to produce a record of the investigation before the court.
Referring to the SP’s affidavit, the court on Wednesday, noted that the accused Rohit has been arrested and once arrested, he would be interrogated for further collection of evidence.
Advocate general Subodh Kantak assured the court that after the arrest accused Rohit was indeed interrogated. He further told the court that the complaint lodged by the victim’s mother on October 14 has been registered by the police.
Referring to another complaint filed by the mother on October 24 alleging that PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren also sexually exploited the minor, Kantak said this complaint was also being investigated.
The court, meanwhile, directed the police to file furthesr affidavits and submit a report on the subsequent investigation by November 20. The matter has been placed for hearing on November 21.
Earlier on on October 14, the mother of the German minor had filed a police complaint accusing Rohit of sexually assaulting her daughter, outraging her modesty and raping her—offences punishable under sections 354 and 376 of Indian Penal Code and under the Goa Children’s Act. She had also demanded that as the mobile phone which was used to send “obscene” messages to the girl was registered in the education minister’s name, a case should be registered against him for abetting the crime.
The minor girl had however refused to give her statement or submit to a medical examination till November 2. Following her statement on Saturday and medical examination on Sunday, Rohit was arrested.
November 06,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Children’s Court Fixes Case For Hearing On November 7
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio Monserratte’s son Rohit, who was arrested on Tuesday on charges of raping a minor German girl, was remanded to three days police custody by the judicial magistrate first class, Mapusa, even as he approached the children’s court seeking bail.
Meanwhile, the high court of Bombay at Goa, which had taken suo moto cognizance of the lethargic police investigations into the case, noted on Wednesday that some progress has been made.
Judge P V Kamat, in-charge of the children’s
court set up under the Goa Children’s Act, 2005 to deal with offences committed against minors, issued notices to the prosecution for their reply and fixed the matter for hearing at 2.30 pm on November 7.
Rohit, in his bail application submitted through his lawyers, said that the case was based on assumptions. He claimed that his further custody was no longer required as police have carried out investigations and necessary medical examinations. He also said that a false case has been slapped on him and he was willing to stand trial to prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, justice N A Britto of the high court noted that the girl’s statement and medical examination and Rohit’s arrest—information filed by SP (north) Bosco George in his affidavit— showed that some progress had been made in the case.
On October 24, the high court had suo motu taken cognizance of the lethargy on the part of the police in arresting the accused and had treated the case as a public interest litigation (PIL). The police were ordered to produce a record of the investigation before the court.
Referring to the SP’s affidavit, the court on Wednesday, noted that the accused Rohit has been arrested and once arrested, he would be interrogated for further collection of evidence.
Advocate general Subodh Kantak assured the court that after the arrest accused Rohit was indeed interrogated. He further told the court that the complaint lodged by the victim’s mother on October 14 has been registered by the police.
Referring to another complaint filed by the mother on October 24 alleging that PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren also sexually exploited the minor, Kantak said this complaint was also being investigated.
The court, meanwhile, directed the police to file furthesr affidavits and submit a report on the subsequent investigation by November 20. The matter has been placed for hearing on November 21.
Earlier on on October 14, the mother of the German minor had filed a police complaint accusing Rohit of sexually assaulting her daughter, outraging her modesty and raping her—offences punishable under sections 354 and 376 of Indian Penal Code and under the Goa Children’s Act. She had also demanded that as the mobile phone which was used to send “obscene” messages to the girl was registered in the education minister’s name, a case should be registered against him for abetting the crime.
The minor girl had however refused to give her statement or submit to a medical examination till November 2. Following her statement on Saturday and medical examination on Sunday, Rohit was arrested.
November 06,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa;I met Rohit at Miramar hotel: Girl
I met Rohit at Miramar hotel: Girl
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The German minor, whose mother alleges had been raped by Rohit Monserrate, reportedly met the education minister’s son through mutual friends at a Miramar hotel about 4-5 months back. She reportedly said in her statement that 2-3 weeks before her mother lodged a missing complaint on October 2, she met Rohit again.
Although police officials refused to come on record, sources quoted the girl as saying that she was accompanied by X (a friend) and Rohit had with him Y (his friend). X then received a call and he left with Y.
Rohit then took her for a drive in his Audi to Bambolim, she said. It was during this drive that Rohit told the German girl that he wanted to have sex with her. She claimed that she initially refused, but when he kept on insisting, she consented.
According to the girl’s statement, Rohit then dropped her at the KTC bus stand as she had to reach home by 8 pm—the deadline her mother had set for her. The girl claimed she took a pilot motorcycle. She went to bed and didn’t tell her mother about the incident.
The minor said that once when she was asleep, her mother accepted a call on her mobile and saw the “obscene” SMSs. The girl is reported to have also claimed that one day Jennifer Monserrate, Rohit’s mother, had come with someone to the house. However, she admitted that she did not know what transpired as she was upstairs. Jennifer has denied making such a visit.
The girl has not named PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren although her mother has alleged he too had sexually exploited the minor.
November 06,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The German minor, whose mother alleges had been raped by Rohit Monserrate, reportedly met the education minister’s son through mutual friends at a Miramar hotel about 4-5 months back. She reportedly said in her statement that 2-3 weeks before her mother lodged a missing complaint on October 2, she met Rohit again.
Although police officials refused to come on record, sources quoted the girl as saying that she was accompanied by X (a friend) and Rohit had with him Y (his friend). X then received a call and he left with Y.
Rohit then took her for a drive in his Audi to Bambolim, she said. It was during this drive that Rohit told the German girl that he wanted to have sex with her. She claimed that she initially refused, but when he kept on insisting, she consented.
According to the girl’s statement, Rohit then dropped her at the KTC bus stand as she had to reach home by 8 pm—the deadline her mother had set for her. The girl claimed she took a pilot motorcycle. She went to bed and didn’t tell her mother about the incident.
The minor said that once when she was asleep, her mother accepted a call on her mobile and saw the “obscene” SMSs. The girl is reported to have also claimed that one day Jennifer Monserrate, Rohit’s mother, had come with someone to the house. However, she admitted that she did not know what transpired as she was upstairs. Jennifer has denied making such a visit.
The girl has not named PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren although her mother has alleged he too had sexually exploited the minor.
November 06,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Babush’s son finally turns himself in
Babush’s son finally turns himself in
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit was taken into custody after he surrendered at about 12.40 pm on Tuesday and his father announced he would not move his bail until the police finished their investigation.
Rohit, accused of sexually abusing and raping a 14-yearold German girl, was arrested after he failed to satisfy the police with his answers during a questioning session that lasted about two and a half hours. He was later taken for a medical check up and then brought back to Calangute police station.
“My son is innocent and he has surrendered to prove his innocence,” the minister said after his son turned himself in. The 21-year-old Rohit, who looked calm and composed, arrived at the police station in a white car with a red beacon accompanied by his father and lawyers.
Sources close to the Monserrates said the legal team was present to ensure the cops did not pick up Rohit outside the police station and show it as an arrest instead of a surrender.
Later at 6.30 pm, a police team from Calangute along with fingerprint experts arrived at Monserrate’s Taleigao residence. The minister said they came to recover the black Audi car in which, according to the minor girl’s statement, Rohit had sex with her. “The police are doing their duty and let them do it,” Monserrate said.
Sources said the fingerprint experts thoroughly searched the car for almost two and an half hours.
As reported by TOI, Monserrate had written to the Calangute police on Monday night requesting them to permit him to produce his son Rohit by Tuesday noon. Monserrate claimed he was not in touch with Rohit, who had gone missing ever since the police booked him for rape on October 14. The arrest had been deferred till the girl gave her statement and underwent a medical examination.
CM under pressure
to sack Monserrate
Panaji: Pressure is mounting on the CM to drop A Monserrate from the cabinet following allegations that Babush harboured Rohit for 15 days and turned him in in the face of police pressure. TNN P 3
Night in lock-up
Panaji: Rohit Monserrate spent Tuesday night in the lock-up “without any special favours” from the police. After a dinner of fish curry and rice, he was forced to sleep on a charpai. TNN
P 2
Aires targets CM
Panaji: Aires Rodrigues on Tuesday attempted to drag the CM into the controversy surrounding the recent attack on him. The CM dismissed Aires charges as false. TNN P 3 Rohit denies raping minor German girl
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit, who had gone missing after the police booked him for the rape of a minor German girl on October 14, gave his statement to the cops on November 1, hours before the alleged deposed before a local court. He admitted knowing the girl but denied raping her, sources said.
Following the girl’s deposition on Saturday and her medical examination on Sunday, the police had raided Monserrate’s houses in Miramar and Taleigao as Rohit failed to honour summons asking him to present himself at Calangute police station. Summons were later served on the minister also asking him to produce his son before the police.
Meanwhile, Aires Rodrigues, counsel for the girl’s mother, has demanded that the minor’s statement be recorded again as she did not
state in her statement before the magistrate all that she had told him.
“We have requested the police to take the statement of the girl again as she has not given complete information. She has only named Rohit Monserrate but there are also others involved in the offence whom she has not named,” said Rodrigues.
November 05,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit was taken into custody after he surrendered at about 12.40 pm on Tuesday and his father announced he would not move his bail until the police finished their investigation.
Rohit, accused of sexually abusing and raping a 14-yearold German girl, was arrested after he failed to satisfy the police with his answers during a questioning session that lasted about two and a half hours. He was later taken for a medical check up and then brought back to Calangute police station.
“My son is innocent and he has surrendered to prove his innocence,” the minister said after his son turned himself in. The 21-year-old Rohit, who looked calm and composed, arrived at the police station in a white car with a red beacon accompanied by his father and lawyers.
Sources close to the Monserrates said the legal team was present to ensure the cops did not pick up Rohit outside the police station and show it as an arrest instead of a surrender.
Later at 6.30 pm, a police team from Calangute along with fingerprint experts arrived at Monserrate’s Taleigao residence. The minister said they came to recover the black Audi car in which, according to the minor girl’s statement, Rohit had sex with her. “The police are doing their duty and let them do it,” Monserrate said.
Sources said the fingerprint experts thoroughly searched the car for almost two and an half hours.
As reported by TOI, Monserrate had written to the Calangute police on Monday night requesting them to permit him to produce his son Rohit by Tuesday noon. Monserrate claimed he was not in touch with Rohit, who had gone missing ever since the police booked him for rape on October 14. The arrest had been deferred till the girl gave her statement and underwent a medical examination.
CM under pressure
to sack Monserrate
Panaji: Pressure is mounting on the CM to drop A Monserrate from the cabinet following allegations that Babush harboured Rohit for 15 days and turned him in in the face of police pressure. TNN P 3
Night in lock-up
Panaji: Rohit Monserrate spent Tuesday night in the lock-up “without any special favours” from the police. After a dinner of fish curry and rice, he was forced to sleep on a charpai. TNN
P 2
Aires targets CM
Panaji: Aires Rodrigues on Tuesday attempted to drag the CM into the controversy surrounding the recent attack on him. The CM dismissed Aires charges as false. TNN P 3 Rohit denies raping minor German girl
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit, who had gone missing after the police booked him for the rape of a minor German girl on October 14, gave his statement to the cops on November 1, hours before the alleged deposed before a local court. He admitted knowing the girl but denied raping her, sources said.
Following the girl’s deposition on Saturday and her medical examination on Sunday, the police had raided Monserrate’s houses in Miramar and Taleigao as Rohit failed to honour summons asking him to present himself at Calangute police station. Summons were later served on the minister also asking him to produce his son before the police.
Meanwhile, Aires Rodrigues, counsel for the girl’s mother, has demanded that the minor’s statement be recorded again as she did not
state in her statement before the magistrate all that she had told him.
“We have requested the police to take the statement of the girl again as she has not given complete information. She has only named Rohit Monserrate but there are also others involved in the offence whom she has not named,” said Rodrigues.
November 05,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Babush to turn in Rohit today
Babush to turn in Rohit today
‘Girl Has Admitted To Having Sex’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The police on Monday raided education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s house and served summons on the Teleigaon strongman to produce his son Rohit, who is alleged to have raped a German minor. This followed a statement given by the girl to a local court on Saturday and her medical examination by a team of GMC doctors on Sunday.
Although police officials refused to come on record, highly-placed sources said the girl had reportedly revealed that Rohit had sex with her. This happened on a drive to a remote plateau in Bambolim, she is reported to have said. Though she has not given the exact date, the girl said it happened four or five months ago, the sources said.
Superintendent of police (north) Bosco George refused to comment on the issue. “I have to file an affidavit in the high court and till then I can’t say anything,” he said.
Late on Monday night, Monserrate’s lawyer Arun Braz D’sa came with a letter from the minister (not on his official letterhead) to the Calangute police inspector. The letter said, “I was surprised at the presence of policemen at my house looking out for my son Rohit Monserrate today. I have already gone on record assuring full cooperation to the police. No intimation was given to us about the requirement to produce Rohit Monserrate. It is through the media that we learnt that the summons was served upon us. I was therefore surprised to receive summons as late as 19:15 pm under Section 160 CrPC.”
“In any case, I stand by my previous statement and request you to permit me to produce my son Rohit Monserrate by tomorrow noon at Calangute police station as at the moment he has not contacted me.”
November 4,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
‘Girl Has Admitted To Having Sex’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The police on Monday raided education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s house and served summons on the Teleigaon strongman to produce his son Rohit, who is alleged to have raped a German minor. This followed a statement given by the girl to a local court on Saturday and her medical examination by a team of GMC doctors on Sunday.
Although police officials refused to come on record, highly-placed sources said the girl had reportedly revealed that Rohit had sex with her. This happened on a drive to a remote plateau in Bambolim, she is reported to have said. Though she has not given the exact date, the girl said it happened four or five months ago, the sources said.
Superintendent of police (north) Bosco George refused to comment on the issue. “I have to file an affidavit in the high court and till then I can’t say anything,” he said.
Late on Monday night, Monserrate’s lawyer Arun Braz D’sa came with a letter from the minister (not on his official letterhead) to the Calangute police inspector. The letter said, “I was surprised at the presence of policemen at my house looking out for my son Rohit Monserrate today. I have already gone on record assuring full cooperation to the police. No intimation was given to us about the requirement to produce Rohit Monserrate. It is through the media that we learnt that the summons was served upon us. I was therefore surprised to receive summons as late as 19:15 pm under Section 160 CrPC.”
“In any case, I stand by my previous statement and request you to permit me to produce my son Rohit Monserrate by tomorrow noon at Calangute police station as at the moment he has not contacted me.”
November 4,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, November 03, 2008
CBI to return Scarlett’s organs
CBI to return Scarlett’s organs
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is inquiring into the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has agreed to hand over the girl’s organs to her mother Fiona Mackeown on receipt of the chemical examination reports.
The reports are awaited from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
In a letter to the British high commissioner to India, Sir Charles Richard Vernon Stagg, on October 14, 2008, CBI joint director (policy) Sudhir Saxena, said, “The reports from both AIIMS and CFSL New Delhi are awaited.”
Decent burial only after organs are received: Fiona
Panaji: The Central Bureau of Investigation has decided to hand over the organs of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, who was raped and murdered in Goa, to her mother Fiona Mackeown on receipt of the chemical examination reports.
CBI joint director (policy) Sudhir Saxena, in a letter to British high commissioner to India Sir Charles Richard Vernon Stagg, on October 14, 2008, said, “On receipt of the report and the organs — pieces of both lungs, pieces of liver and half of uterus — can be handed over to Fiona Mackeown after obtaining permission from the children’s court, Panaji.”
Speaking to TOI over the phone from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona, who had written to the CBI seeking Scarlett’s organs, said, “The CBI has said that some of the organs have been destroyed, but they would hand over the remaining organs of my daughter soon. Once we receive the organs, we can give her a decent burial.”
Scarlett’s body had been found on February 19, 2008 at Anjuna beach, and a case of rape and murder was registered. Fiona had taken her daughter’s body to the UK for a third autopsy after two forensic autopsies at the Goa Medical College and Hospital. The autopsy at the coroner’s court in Devon had revealed that Scarlett’s kidneys, stomach and uterus were missing. Doctors at GMC’s forensic department had stated that the organs had been preserved for tests.
While Scarlett’s liver and pieces of her lungs were deposited in a sealed envelope by the Goa police with the children’s court, half of the uterus and slides containing tissues were collected from the Goa Medical College and Hospital by the CBI for examination.
The letter to the high commissioner was in response to queries raised by the former in a meeting with CBI officials in Delhi on September 3, 2008. During the meeting, the high commissioner had sought information regarding investigations into the case, especially the return of the organs.
The CBI letter added that following procedure, the remaining biological materials (organs) utilized by the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai, for chemical analysis were preserved for a period of three weeks and thereafter destroyed as per the existing protocol, it being “hazardous” to preserve them.
November 3,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is inquiring into the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has agreed to hand over the girl’s organs to her mother Fiona Mackeown on receipt of the chemical examination reports.
The reports are awaited from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
In a letter to the British high commissioner to India, Sir Charles Richard Vernon Stagg, on October 14, 2008, CBI joint director (policy) Sudhir Saxena, said, “The reports from both AIIMS and CFSL New Delhi are awaited.”
Decent burial only after organs are received: Fiona
Panaji: The Central Bureau of Investigation has decided to hand over the organs of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, who was raped and murdered in Goa, to her mother Fiona Mackeown on receipt of the chemical examination reports.
CBI joint director (policy) Sudhir Saxena, in a letter to British high commissioner to India Sir Charles Richard Vernon Stagg, on October 14, 2008, said, “On receipt of the report and the organs — pieces of both lungs, pieces of liver and half of uterus — can be handed over to Fiona Mackeown after obtaining permission from the children’s court, Panaji.”
Speaking to TOI over the phone from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona, who had written to the CBI seeking Scarlett’s organs, said, “The CBI has said that some of the organs have been destroyed, but they would hand over the remaining organs of my daughter soon. Once we receive the organs, we can give her a decent burial.”
Scarlett’s body had been found on February 19, 2008 at Anjuna beach, and a case of rape and murder was registered. Fiona had taken her daughter’s body to the UK for a third autopsy after two forensic autopsies at the Goa Medical College and Hospital. The autopsy at the coroner’s court in Devon had revealed that Scarlett’s kidneys, stomach and uterus were missing. Doctors at GMC’s forensic department had stated that the organs had been preserved for tests.
While Scarlett’s liver and pieces of her lungs were deposited in a sealed envelope by the Goa police with the children’s court, half of the uterus and slides containing tissues were collected from the Goa Medical College and Hospital by the CBI for examination.
The letter to the high commissioner was in response to queries raised by the former in a meeting with CBI officials in Delhi on September 3, 2008. During the meeting, the high commissioner had sought information regarding investigations into the case, especially the return of the organs.
The CBI letter added that following procedure, the remaining biological materials (organs) utilized by the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai, for chemical analysis were preserved for a period of three weeks and thereafter destroyed as per the existing protocol, it being “hazardous” to preserve them.
November 3,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa;German girl submits to medical test
German girl submits to medical test
Doctors Non-Commital On Rape
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Almost a month after a German woman lodged a police complaint against education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit alleging sexual abuse and rape of her minor daughter, the girl submitted herself to a medical examination on Sunday morning.
Highly-placed sources confirmed that the medical examination conducted at Goa Medical College and Hospital by a three-member panel of a lady gynaecologist and two forensic doctors confirmed an “old hymen tear”, but refrained from forming any opinion regarding “recent sexual intercourse” after an almost two-hour regular examination. They have, however, preserved vaginal swabs and other materials for serological examination.
Sources said that an ultrasound test to check if the girl was pregnant or had undergone an abortion or a miscarriage did not reveal anything. The examination was conducted after the girl gave her consent.
Ever since her mother lodged a police complaint on October 2, the girl had been refusing to give her statement or to subject herself to a medical test, and the two had often fought over this. However, the girl deposed before a local court on Saturday afternoon before undergoing the medical test on Sunday.
After the medical examination, the German mother’s counsel Aires Rodrigues claimed that the doctors told him that the girl had been raped. “They have performed all the tests, including ultrasound of the uterus. She may even go for an HIV test.”
Apart from charging Rohit with the rape of her 14-yearold daughter, the German mother had accused Warren Alemao, nephew of PWD minister Churchill Alemao, of sexually abusing the minor.
Police sources said the mother had agreed to allow a test on her daughter to check for HIV and STD, but she later withdrew the permission alleging a twohour delay on the part of the hospital authorities as “part of a larger conspiracy”.
Rohit will cooperate,says Babush
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate announced on Sunday that the police have recorded the statement of his son Rohit, who has been accused of raping a minor German girl.
Stating that the law should follow its own course, Babush said in a press statement, “The truth should be revealed without fear or favour. The German girl had refused to depose or get herself medically examined up to November 1, 2008, almost a month after her mother complained of the alleged rape. Now that she has given her statement and offered herself for medical examination, Rohit will cooperate with the police in their investigation.”
Apart from Rohit, the police have recorded the statement of his wife Jennifer also, amongst others, he said in the statement faxed to newspaper offices.
“I believe that my son Rohit, an adult, should be responsible for his acts and must face the consequences of breaking the law if he has done so. But in accordance with law, I shall resist attempts from certain quarters to selectively target only my family members for extraneous and political purposes,” added Babush.
Police to study medical report
Panaji: The German minor girl, whose mother has charged education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit of sexually abusing and raping her daughter, underwent medical examination at the Goa Medical College and Hospital on Sunday morning. A three-member team of doctors conducted tests on the minor.
Police confirmed receipt of the medical report but refused to divulge any details.
SP (North) Bosco George said, “We will have to study the medical examination report and the statement of the girl to determine the further course of action.”
E a rl i e r, a c c o m p a - nied by her mother and lawyer, the girl in blue skirt and top arrived at the forensic department of GMC at 11 am on Sunday and had to wait for almost 40 minutes before the tests could be performed.
November 3,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Doctors Non-Commital On Rape
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Almost a month after a German woman lodged a police complaint against education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit alleging sexual abuse and rape of her minor daughter, the girl submitted herself to a medical examination on Sunday morning.
Highly-placed sources confirmed that the medical examination conducted at Goa Medical College and Hospital by a three-member panel of a lady gynaecologist and two forensic doctors confirmed an “old hymen tear”, but refrained from forming any opinion regarding “recent sexual intercourse” after an almost two-hour regular examination. They have, however, preserved vaginal swabs and other materials for serological examination.
Sources said that an ultrasound test to check if the girl was pregnant or had undergone an abortion or a miscarriage did not reveal anything. The examination was conducted after the girl gave her consent.
Ever since her mother lodged a police complaint on October 2, the girl had been refusing to give her statement or to subject herself to a medical test, and the two had often fought over this. However, the girl deposed before a local court on Saturday afternoon before undergoing the medical test on Sunday.
After the medical examination, the German mother’s counsel Aires Rodrigues claimed that the doctors told him that the girl had been raped. “They have performed all the tests, including ultrasound of the uterus. She may even go for an HIV test.”
Apart from charging Rohit with the rape of her 14-yearold daughter, the German mother had accused Warren Alemao, nephew of PWD minister Churchill Alemao, of sexually abusing the minor.
Police sources said the mother had agreed to allow a test on her daughter to check for HIV and STD, but she later withdrew the permission alleging a twohour delay on the part of the hospital authorities as “part of a larger conspiracy”.
Rohit will cooperate,says Babush
Panaji: Education minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate announced on Sunday that the police have recorded the statement of his son Rohit, who has been accused of raping a minor German girl.
Stating that the law should follow its own course, Babush said in a press statement, “The truth should be revealed without fear or favour. The German girl had refused to depose or get herself medically examined up to November 1, 2008, almost a month after her mother complained of the alleged rape. Now that she has given her statement and offered herself for medical examination, Rohit will cooperate with the police in their investigation.”
Apart from Rohit, the police have recorded the statement of his wife Jennifer also, amongst others, he said in the statement faxed to newspaper offices.
“I believe that my son Rohit, an adult, should be responsible for his acts and must face the consequences of breaking the law if he has done so. But in accordance with law, I shall resist attempts from certain quarters to selectively target only my family members for extraneous and political purposes,” added Babush.
Police to study medical report
Panaji: The German minor girl, whose mother has charged education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit of sexually abusing and raping her daughter, underwent medical examination at the Goa Medical College and Hospital on Sunday morning. A three-member team of doctors conducted tests on the minor.
Police confirmed receipt of the medical report but refused to divulge any details.
SP (North) Bosco George said, “We will have to study the medical examination report and the statement of the girl to determine the further course of action.”
E a rl i e r, a c c o m p a - nied by her mother and lawyer, the girl in blue skirt and top arrived at the forensic department of GMC at 11 am on Sunday and had to wait for almost 40 minutes before the tests could be performed.
November 3,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, October 31, 2008
Goa:DEATH BY DROWNING
In the land of sun, sand & surf
DEATH BY DROWNING
A deadly cocktail of naivete, alcohol and strong sea currents is the reason why Goa’s alluring beaches are death traps for tourists
Preetu Nair | TNN
Goa’s most prominent beaches — Calangute in the North and Colva in the South — are also the biggest killers.
Going by police statistics from January 2006 to September 2008, 42 persons drowned at Calangute while 18 met a watery grave at Colva. Significantly, most of the deceased were Indian male tourists.
“Most Indian visitors have often never seen the sea before and can barely swim,” explains a senior tourist official, “They plunge into the water despite warnings and often in a drunken state.”
In 2006, North Goa’s seas saw 23 Indian men drown; the figure upped to 31 in 2007 and till September this year, the seas have claimed 25 Indian tourists.
In the South, 2006 saw 24 Indians die in the waters, 2007 saw 30 and in the first nine months of 2008, 16 Indians have lost their lives to the sea. In contrast, the total number of foreign visitors who’ve died in Goa’s waters in the last 33 months are 12 in the north and two in the south.
The killer seas are mostly off the crowded beaches of Calangute, Baga and Arambol in North Goa, while Margao’s Colva beach is the sinister sea in the South.
While the total number of drowning deaths in the North in 2006 was 35, the South saw 28 deaths. Year 2007 witnessed 55 drowning deaths in North Goa, while the South recorded 33 drowning deaths. Till September 2008, 33 people have drowned in the North and 21 in the South.
October 29, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Goa Children:‘Lack of counselling cause of violence’
APNA GHAR BLUES
‘Lack of counselling cause of violence’
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A 17-year-old boy was admitted to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) after he broke the window panes and tube-lights of his room at Apna Ghar, the state’s juvenile remand home at Ribandar.
The staff at the remand home justified the transfer on grounds that the youngster had a “violent” character. He went on the rampage after he wasn’t allowed to watch television.
At the IPHB, doctors diagnosed the youngster’s behaviour as merely a case of “conduct disorder” (triggered by immediate circumstances) rather than one of violence.
The youngster’s case isn’t a one-off.
Doctors at the IPHB say juveniles are repeatedly referred to the institute. “Once in two months, one or two juveniles from Apna Ghar are admitted here. A majority of them suffer from conduct disorders, as they are street children who are not exposed to proper care and shelter,” says IPHB medical superintendent B S Cuncoliencar.
At Apna Ghar, Juvenile Justice Board member Snehlata Bhatikar says delinquents go through tremendous trauma at the remand home as there is no counsellor at the campus to talk to and understand their apprehensions and anxiety.
“Besides, the approach of the staff being punitive, they ill-treat them. This drives the juvenile into a rebellious stage where they break gadgets and windows. Children learn to blackmail and when that fails, they rebel,” adds Bhatikar.
Explaining the reasons for such behaviour, Dr Nandita de Souza of Sethu Centre for Child Development and Family Guidance says, “Children misbehave either due to the development or emotional causes within them or due to the causes outside them such as family, home, friends, role models. Children want attention, power and control.”
Apart from this, some children also have addictions. “These children are often addicted to sniffing glue or drinking. The place where they are locked up only aggravates the situation as they are not provided with any skill or services for gainful employment once released,” says Arun Pandey, of NGO ARZ.
“The juveniles at Apna Ghar have no activity. They are allowed to play for just one hour everyday. They are not sent to school and spend most of the time in the prison-like room,”
says Bhatikar.
Director, Women and Child Development, Sanjiv Gadkar, says the government is aware of the problem and is working towards improving the situation.
The remand home presently has courses in craft, tailoring and clay modelling. Occasionally, a three-month course in cookery and baking is also taught.
“We are in talks with the Government Polytechnic College to start short-duration skillbased courses that will convince the children not to go back to their old ways,” assures Gadkar. These courses will include mobile repairs, data entry, making of novelty items, quilts, soft toys and coir articles and beautician courses.
October 23, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
‘Lack of counselling cause of violence’
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A 17-year-old boy was admitted to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) after he broke the window panes and tube-lights of his room at Apna Ghar, the state’s juvenile remand home at Ribandar.
The staff at the remand home justified the transfer on grounds that the youngster had a “violent” character. He went on the rampage after he wasn’t allowed to watch television.
At the IPHB, doctors diagnosed the youngster’s behaviour as merely a case of “conduct disorder” (triggered by immediate circumstances) rather than one of violence.
The youngster’s case isn’t a one-off.
Doctors at the IPHB say juveniles are repeatedly referred to the institute. “Once in two months, one or two juveniles from Apna Ghar are admitted here. A majority of them suffer from conduct disorders, as they are street children who are not exposed to proper care and shelter,” says IPHB medical superintendent B S Cuncoliencar.
At Apna Ghar, Juvenile Justice Board member Snehlata Bhatikar says delinquents go through tremendous trauma at the remand home as there is no counsellor at the campus to talk to and understand their apprehensions and anxiety.
“Besides, the approach of the staff being punitive, they ill-treat them. This drives the juvenile into a rebellious stage where they break gadgets and windows. Children learn to blackmail and when that fails, they rebel,” adds Bhatikar.
Explaining the reasons for such behaviour, Dr Nandita de Souza of Sethu Centre for Child Development and Family Guidance says, “Children misbehave either due to the development or emotional causes within them or due to the causes outside them such as family, home, friends, role models. Children want attention, power and control.”
Apart from this, some children also have addictions. “These children are often addicted to sniffing glue or drinking. The place where they are locked up only aggravates the situation as they are not provided with any skill or services for gainful employment once released,” says Arun Pandey, of NGO ARZ.
“The juveniles at Apna Ghar have no activity. They are allowed to play for just one hour everyday. They are not sent to school and spend most of the time in the prison-like room,”
says Bhatikar.
Director, Women and Child Development, Sanjiv Gadkar, says the government is aware of the problem and is working towards improving the situation.
The remand home presently has courses in craft, tailoring and clay modelling. Occasionally, a three-month course in cookery and baking is also taught.
“We are in talks with the Government Polytechnic College to start short-duration skillbased courses that will convince the children not to go back to their old ways,” assures Gadkar. These courses will include mobile repairs, data entry, making of novelty items, quilts, soft toys and coir articles and beautician courses.
October 23, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
In Goa 108 Juveniles ‘Locked Up’ At The Home; Water, Beds Scarce
Apna Ghar wards live in dismal conditions
108 Juveniles ‘Locked Up’ At The Home; Water, Beds Scarce
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Children, whether in conflict with law or in need of care and shelter are “lockedup” at the government run children’s home — Apna Ghar, where conditions are pitiable.
On a visit to Apna Ghar, TOI discovered 108 children, 56 of them girls, “rescued” from various situations. Ten of the boys were juveniles in conflict with the law.
A stink greets any visitor to the building, the reason being the lack of adequate water. The toilet doors are broken and the urinals have water up to ankle level.
This was taken up by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR). “We have written to the minister of women and child development regarding the condition of the rooms and brought to his notice that the toilet is unhygenic and the water supply erratic. We have demanded that they install grills for the windows, so that the children don’t escape,” said GSCPCR chairperson Sameera Kazi.
“We are repairing the main water tank and improving the other facilities. We are trying to give them a safe environment in the best possible way,” said Sanjiv Gadkar, director of women and child development.
“Apna Ghar is like a prison and not a reformation home. It is a jail from which small time juveniles leave as big time criminals,” alleges juvenile justice board member Snehalata Bhatikar.
However, Gadkar denied this saying, “It is not correct to call it a jail as we don’t keep the juveniles in a closed room. We have to keep them lockedup as they break window panes and destroy everything in their vicinity if left in the open. There is also a toddler section. Who will bear responsibility if any harm is caused to them?”
Boys in conflict with the law and those in need of care are “locked-up” in separate rooms. This comprises a fan in working condition albeit without proper beds. All the girls, on the other hand, are housed in a single room.
The switchboard in the room where lads in conflict with the law are put up, is broken with wires dangling. The broken window panes are the work of, “the children themselves”, reveal authorities.
Gadkar said, “It is difficult to control so many children. If we don’t deter them from the wrong path now, it’s an open invitation for them to do whatever they want in the future. We definitely don’t want them to regress to their previous situations.”
Bhatikar, however, begged to differ. She said, “There are no facilities to improve their present or future whereby they can be gainfully employed.” In fact, the only activity for the children is an hour of games every evening and if they desire, they are taught pottery or needle work.
October 22, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
108 Juveniles ‘Locked Up’ At The Home; Water, Beds Scarce
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Children, whether in conflict with law or in need of care and shelter are “lockedup” at the government run children’s home — Apna Ghar, where conditions are pitiable.
On a visit to Apna Ghar, TOI discovered 108 children, 56 of them girls, “rescued” from various situations. Ten of the boys were juveniles in conflict with the law.
A stink greets any visitor to the building, the reason being the lack of adequate water. The toilet doors are broken and the urinals have water up to ankle level.
This was taken up by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR). “We have written to the minister of women and child development regarding the condition of the rooms and brought to his notice that the toilet is unhygenic and the water supply erratic. We have demanded that they install grills for the windows, so that the children don’t escape,” said GSCPCR chairperson Sameera Kazi.
“We are repairing the main water tank and improving the other facilities. We are trying to give them a safe environment in the best possible way,” said Sanjiv Gadkar, director of women and child development.
“Apna Ghar is like a prison and not a reformation home. It is a jail from which small time juveniles leave as big time criminals,” alleges juvenile justice board member Snehalata Bhatikar.
However, Gadkar denied this saying, “It is not correct to call it a jail as we don’t keep the juveniles in a closed room. We have to keep them lockedup as they break window panes and destroy everything in their vicinity if left in the open. There is also a toddler section. Who will bear responsibility if any harm is caused to them?”
Boys in conflict with the law and those in need of care are “locked-up” in separate rooms. This comprises a fan in working condition albeit without proper beds. All the girls, on the other hand, are housed in a single room.
The switchboard in the room where lads in conflict with the law are put up, is broken with wires dangling. The broken window panes are the work of, “the children themselves”, reveal authorities.
Gadkar said, “It is difficult to control so many children. If we don’t deter them from the wrong path now, it’s an open invitation for them to do whatever they want in the future. We definitely don’t want them to regress to their previous situations.”
Bhatikar, however, begged to differ. She said, “There are no facilities to improve their present or future whereby they can be gainfully employed.” In fact, the only activity for the children is an hour of games every evening and if they desire, they are taught pottery or needle work.
October 22, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa Pharamacy College Rs 65 Lakhs college equipment lies unused
Rs 65L college equipment lies unused
Pharmacy College Paid In Full Without Delivery Of Quality Machinery: Report
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: In a shocking development, state-of-the-art equipment purchased in 2006 at the cost of Rs 65 lakh for use at the Goa college of pharmacy is lying unused at the institution.
A sub-committee, appointed by the college management, that looked into the purchases noted, “Prima facie, it is a case for further investigation. The installation report of the machines has been prepared without checking and actually installing the equipment. The 100% payment was done without getting quality equipment delivered. (There has been) no benefit to students despite (the equipment) lying in (the) college for more than one year”.
The report of the sub-committee was submitted to the state government on October 11, 2008. Technical education director Vivek Kamat confirmed the receipt of the report, but said, “At this stage, we can’t say anything. We have asked for some more information.”
Officiating college principal M G Pai, however, refused to comment on the report and said, “The matter is with the government. Let the government go through the matter and if there is anything we will take action.”
The pharmacy college with 450 students, one of the oldest institutes in the state, has been constantly gripped by problems due to a lack of infrastructure and facilities.
In 2006, chief secretary J P Singh had sanctioned the additional funds for acquiring machinery and equipment for the college. The machines purchased included, telemetry DSI data acquisition, auto track animal activity meter, hot plate analgesic meter and biopack, organ bath set-up, rat restrainer, ECG and other equipment worth Rs 65 lakh. These machines, used for developing new drugs and studying the effect of drugs on animals, were purchased from Gentech Marketing and Distribution (P) Ltd in August 2006.
According to the report, besides procedural lapses, there are also technical lapses. “It appears that the purchase committee decided to purchase the equipment on its own initiative. All members (were) not aware as there are no minutes of any meeting/s of the purchase committee and the signatures of all members are not available especially at crucial decision points,” the report states.
Besides procedural lapses, the report points out to technical flaws in the purchase. “While quoting (for) this item, M/s Gentech included an additional cost of $2800 towards training. As per the special conditions of the tender, the training should have been free. Installation of the equipment and the training is suspect, since M/s Gentech has specifically stated that a ‘starter kit’ is for training and demonstration. This essential part was supplied only in May 2008. Even on May 22, 2008, the company failed to demonstrate the proper working of the machinery”, the report notes.
Noting that instead of installing the equipment, it was dumped in a room, the report added, “All the payments were made in advance. Ninety per cent (of the) payment was to be made against irrevocable letter of credit or draft at sight. The balance 10% was to be paid on completion of supply, installation and acceptance of the equipment. Advance payment was not allowed.”
October 21, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Pharmacy College Paid In Full Without Delivery Of Quality Machinery: Report
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: In a shocking development, state-of-the-art equipment purchased in 2006 at the cost of Rs 65 lakh for use at the Goa college of pharmacy is lying unused at the institution.
A sub-committee, appointed by the college management, that looked into the purchases noted, “Prima facie, it is a case for further investigation. The installation report of the machines has been prepared without checking and actually installing the equipment. The 100% payment was done without getting quality equipment delivered. (There has been) no benefit to students despite (the equipment) lying in (the) college for more than one year”.
The report of the sub-committee was submitted to the state government on October 11, 2008. Technical education director Vivek Kamat confirmed the receipt of the report, but said, “At this stage, we can’t say anything. We have asked for some more information.”
Officiating college principal M G Pai, however, refused to comment on the report and said, “The matter is with the government. Let the government go through the matter and if there is anything we will take action.”
The pharmacy college with 450 students, one of the oldest institutes in the state, has been constantly gripped by problems due to a lack of infrastructure and facilities.
In 2006, chief secretary J P Singh had sanctioned the additional funds for acquiring machinery and equipment for the college. The machines purchased included, telemetry DSI data acquisition, auto track animal activity meter, hot plate analgesic meter and biopack, organ bath set-up, rat restrainer, ECG and other equipment worth Rs 65 lakh. These machines, used for developing new drugs and studying the effect of drugs on animals, were purchased from Gentech Marketing and Distribution (P) Ltd in August 2006.
According to the report, besides procedural lapses, there are also technical lapses. “It appears that the purchase committee decided to purchase the equipment on its own initiative. All members (were) not aware as there are no minutes of any meeting/s of the purchase committee and the signatures of all members are not available especially at crucial decision points,” the report states.
Besides procedural lapses, the report points out to technical flaws in the purchase. “While quoting (for) this item, M/s Gentech included an additional cost of $2800 towards training. As per the special conditions of the tender, the training should have been free. Installation of the equipment and the training is suspect, since M/s Gentech has specifically stated that a ‘starter kit’ is for training and demonstration. This essential part was supplied only in May 2008. Even on May 22, 2008, the company failed to demonstrate the proper working of the machinery”, the report notes.
Noting that instead of installing the equipment, it was dumped in a room, the report added, “All the payments were made in advance. Ninety per cent (of the) payment was to be made against irrevocable letter of credit or draft at sight. The balance 10% was to be paid on completion of supply, installation and acceptance of the equipment. Advance payment was not allowed.”
October 21, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sexual Abuse case German woman lodges plaint against Jennifer
SEXUAL ABUSE CASE
German woman lodges plaint against Jennifer
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The German mother, who has alleged that her minor daughter has been raped and sexually abused by the education minister’s son Rohit Monserrate, has now lodged a complaint against Rohit’s mother Jennifer for coming to her house on October 3 to coax her to withdraw the complaint filed by her (German mother).
The German mother had filed a complaint on October 2, alleging, “I know my daughter is being sexually used by a man much elder than her. This person is contacting her on her mobile phone and maybe via the internet.” The 14-year-old girl had dropped out of a Panaji school last year and is now studying in an open school.
The mother, in her latest complaint to the police, alleged that Jennifer had “come to my house on the evening of October 3, 2008 in an attempt to coax me to withdraw the complaint.”
Stating that she was surprised that Jennifer is denying coming to her house, she
said, “I have now found the piece of paper on which Mrs Jennifer Monserrate in her own handwriting had written down her mobile numbers and asked me to call her to settle the issue.” The mother, in her letter to the police on Saturday, has demanded that an offence be registered against Jennifer under Section 195A of the IPC r/w Section 506 of IPC.
When contacted, SP (North) Bosco George admitted that he had received the complaint. “We will investigate it with the existing complaint against Rohit Monserrate and his father.”
The German mother’s counsel Aires Rodrigues alleged, “Jennifer, instead of facing the truth, has tried to malign a fourteen-year-old child. She had first tried to convince the mother along with Rohit’s girlfriend and a teacher from a school in Panaji. However, the mother is determined to take the case to its logical conclusion.”
He added that they would demand that the paper with Jennifer’s handwriting should be sent for handwriting verification.
October 19,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
German woman lodges plaint against Jennifer
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The German mother, who has alleged that her minor daughter has been raped and sexually abused by the education minister’s son Rohit Monserrate, has now lodged a complaint against Rohit’s mother Jennifer for coming to her house on October 3 to coax her to withdraw the complaint filed by her (German mother).
The German mother had filed a complaint on October 2, alleging, “I know my daughter is being sexually used by a man much elder than her. This person is contacting her on her mobile phone and maybe via the internet.” The 14-year-old girl had dropped out of a Panaji school last year and is now studying in an open school.
The mother, in her latest complaint to the police, alleged that Jennifer had “come to my house on the evening of October 3, 2008 in an attempt to coax me to withdraw the complaint.”
Stating that she was surprised that Jennifer is denying coming to her house, she
said, “I have now found the piece of paper on which Mrs Jennifer Monserrate in her own handwriting had written down her mobile numbers and asked me to call her to settle the issue.” The mother, in her letter to the police on Saturday, has demanded that an offence be registered against Jennifer under Section 195A of the IPC r/w Section 506 of IPC.
When contacted, SP (North) Bosco George admitted that he had received the complaint. “We will investigate it with the existing complaint against Rohit Monserrate and his father.”
The German mother’s counsel Aires Rodrigues alleged, “Jennifer, instead of facing the truth, has tried to malign a fourteen-year-old child. She had first tried to convince the mother along with Rohit’s girlfriend and a teacher from a school in Panaji. However, the mother is determined to take the case to its logical conclusion.”
He added that they would demand that the paper with Jennifer’s handwriting should be sent for handwriting verification.
October 19,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
German girl gets into public fight with mom
German girl gets into public fight with mom
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The 14-year-old German girl allegedy raped by Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit on Saturday once again refused to let the police record her statement. She also got into a public fight with her mother.
The police had fixed a meeting at among the girl, child activists and child clinical psychologists at 4 pm at her residence to record her statement. However, the girl refused to give her statement and insisted with her mother that she wanted to go to Panaji to meet a friend, police sources told TOI.
“When the mother disagreed, there was an argument between the two. The girl was then put in a police jeep to be taken to Panaji. But she jumped out, threw her purse at her mother and insisted on taking a bus. The child activists intervened and took her to Panaji in a car, followed by the police vehicle,” police sources said.
SP (North) Bosco George said, “She did have an argument with her mother. We are still waiting for her statement and would like to have her statement as soon as possible.”
Incidentally, the minor has been described by a former teacher as a “quiet, self-contained” girl with a good academic record. “She, however, tends to get distracted easily in class. This has resulted in low grades,” she said.
Aires, Prajal discharged
Panaji: Activist and advocate Aires Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande, who were attacked by some masked men at a city hotel on Monday night, were discharged from hospital on Saturday. Meanwhile, the police are still to make any breakthrough in the investigations into the case. Although five persons were arrested from Mahabaleswar on Friday, no real link has been established so far. ‘She was a good student in bad company’
Panaji: The German girl allegedly raped by education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit is intelligent but would easily get distracted in class, resulting in low grades, according to a former teacher.
“She needs to pull herself up through concentrated study to improve her marks, especially in French, maths and science,” states her progress report for the first term 2007-2008 prepared by her class teacher on October 6, 2007.
She was studying in a popular school in the capital city and had scored excellent marks in German but flunked French, maths and science.
Now she is is doing her Standard X through the National Institute of Open Schooling and will be taking her board exams next year.
Her mother recollects how good her daughter was in Bharatnatyam and how she had won accolades for participation in Marathi and Konkani school plays.
“She was a very good student. But it is all over now. I had tried several times to get her to develop new hobbies and enrolled her in several classes, but failed. That is very sad, especially because she is very talented,” said the mother.
“She got into bad company and somehow things changed. I wanted to be a liberal mother but when I realised what my daughter was going through it was too late,” she said.
Stating that “we are all social beings who like to choose our friends and company”, she said, “I thought her friends were honest. But nobody can see through a person’s heart. Most of them were my daughter’s age and would go out together. I did not find anything abnormal till I saw the SMSs.”
October 19,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The 14-year-old German girl allegedy raped by Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit on Saturday once again refused to let the police record her statement. She also got into a public fight with her mother.
The police had fixed a meeting at among the girl, child activists and child clinical psychologists at 4 pm at her residence to record her statement. However, the girl refused to give her statement and insisted with her mother that she wanted to go to Panaji to meet a friend, police sources told TOI.
“When the mother disagreed, there was an argument between the two. The girl was then put in a police jeep to be taken to Panaji. But she jumped out, threw her purse at her mother and insisted on taking a bus. The child activists intervened and took her to Panaji in a car, followed by the police vehicle,” police sources said.
SP (North) Bosco George said, “She did have an argument with her mother. We are still waiting for her statement and would like to have her statement as soon as possible.”
Incidentally, the minor has been described by a former teacher as a “quiet, self-contained” girl with a good academic record. “She, however, tends to get distracted easily in class. This has resulted in low grades,” she said.
Aires, Prajal discharged
Panaji: Activist and advocate Aires Rodrigues and historian Prajal Sakhardande, who were attacked by some masked men at a city hotel on Monday night, were discharged from hospital on Saturday. Meanwhile, the police are still to make any breakthrough in the investigations into the case. Although five persons were arrested from Mahabaleswar on Friday, no real link has been established so far. ‘She was a good student in bad company’
Panaji: The German girl allegedly raped by education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit is intelligent but would easily get distracted in class, resulting in low grades, according to a former teacher.
“She needs to pull herself up through concentrated study to improve her marks, especially in French, maths and science,” states her progress report for the first term 2007-2008 prepared by her class teacher on October 6, 2007.
She was studying in a popular school in the capital city and had scored excellent marks in German but flunked French, maths and science.
Now she is is doing her Standard X through the National Institute of Open Schooling and will be taking her board exams next year.
Her mother recollects how good her daughter was in Bharatnatyam and how she had won accolades for participation in Marathi and Konkani school plays.
“She was a very good student. But it is all over now. I had tried several times to get her to develop new hobbies and enrolled her in several classes, but failed. That is very sad, especially because she is very talented,” said the mother.
“She got into bad company and somehow things changed. I wanted to be a liberal mother but when I realised what my daughter was going through it was too late,” she said.
Stating that “we are all social beings who like to choose our friends and company”, she said, “I thought her friends were honest. But nobody can see through a person’s heart. Most of them were my daughter’s age and would go out together. I did not find anything abnormal till I saw the SMSs.”
October 19,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, October 17, 2008
SEARCH CONTINUES ‘We do not know where Rohit is’
SEARCH CONTINUES
‘We do not know where Rohit is’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Education minister’s son Rohit Monserrate will not be able to leave the country now with the police issuing a lookout circular against him.
“If a person is not available for investigations, we issue a LOC. We have no knowledge where Rohit is. Neither have we received any missing complaint,” said SP (North) Bosco George.
Incidentally, cops who had raided Monserrate’s houses on Tuesday in search of Rohit after registering a complaint against him for sexually assaulting, outraging the modesty and raping the minor, have decided to put off Rohit’s arrest, till the minor’s statement is recorded.
“Till we take the girl’s statement or do a medical examination, we will defer the arrest,” said SP George.
For the third consecutive day police, who had sought the help of child activist and child clinical psychologist to counsel the girl to give her statement and go for a medical examination, failed to get a positive response.
“The minor had in the past attempted to commit suicide twice and we don’t want to put any pressure on the girl,” said a senior police official.
The police believe that though the case may weaken without the minor’s statement or medical examination, it will not collapse. “I don’t think that the case will collapse. There is sufficient material for investigations to continue in this case,” said SP George.
Meanwhile, the police recorded the detailed statement of the mother and attached the mobile along with the SIM card and will be sending it to CFSL, Hyderabad for forensic examinations. They have also attached the minor’s passport which confirms her age as 14 years.
Police sources said that the mother has given detailed information of the last one year and explained how and when her daughter was abused by Rohit. “We have recorded the mother’s detailed statement. She was cooperative,” SP George added.
Incidentally, Jennifer Monserrate, mother of Rohit, who has also been served summons by the Calangute police to appear before them at 10 am on Thursday, didn’t turn up. The German mother had alleged that Jennifer had gone to her house on October 3, asking her to withdraw the complaint.
October 17, The Times of India, Goa edition
‘We do not know where Rohit is’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Education minister’s son Rohit Monserrate will not be able to leave the country now with the police issuing a lookout circular against him.
“If a person is not available for investigations, we issue a LOC. We have no knowledge where Rohit is. Neither have we received any missing complaint,” said SP (North) Bosco George.
Incidentally, cops who had raided Monserrate’s houses on Tuesday in search of Rohit after registering a complaint against him for sexually assaulting, outraging the modesty and raping the minor, have decided to put off Rohit’s arrest, till the minor’s statement is recorded.
“Till we take the girl’s statement or do a medical examination, we will defer the arrest,” said SP George.
For the third consecutive day police, who had sought the help of child activist and child clinical psychologist to counsel the girl to give her statement and go for a medical examination, failed to get a positive response.
“The minor had in the past attempted to commit suicide twice and we don’t want to put any pressure on the girl,” said a senior police official.
The police believe that though the case may weaken without the minor’s statement or medical examination, it will not collapse. “I don’t think that the case will collapse. There is sufficient material for investigations to continue in this case,” said SP George.
Meanwhile, the police recorded the detailed statement of the mother and attached the mobile along with the SIM card and will be sending it to CFSL, Hyderabad for forensic examinations. They have also attached the minor’s passport which confirms her age as 14 years.
Police sources said that the mother has given detailed information of the last one year and explained how and when her daughter was abused by Rohit. “We have recorded the mother’s detailed statement. She was cooperative,” SP George added.
Incidentally, Jennifer Monserrate, mother of Rohit, who has also been served summons by the Calangute police to appear before them at 10 am on Thursday, didn’t turn up. The German mother had alleged that Jennifer had gone to her house on October 3, asking her to withdraw the complaint.
October 17, The Times of India, Goa edition
Now, a complaint against Naik’s son
Now, a complaint against Naik’s son
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: A day after Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate alleged that home minister Ravi Naik had allowed the police to book rape charges against his son Rohit while ignoring cases against his own son Roy, an NGO filed a complaint with the Panaji police alleging Roy’s involvement in the murders of Britishers Scarlett Keeling and Stephen Bennett.
The NGO’s complaint was based solely on purported newspaper reports in Britain and posts on the internet.
The NGO, Green Goa Foundation, claimed to take up matters of public interest.
When contacted, SP (North) Bosco George said, “I have not received the copy of the complaint. However, we have investigated the Scarlett case and filed the chargesheet. Now the CBI is investigating the case. Bennett’s murder investigation doesn’t concern Goa police as the incident occurred in Maharashtra.”
Green Goa Foundation said in its complaint that Goa was a high profile tourist destination and it was therefore essential that a wrong impression about the safety and security of foreign tourists is not given.
October 17,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: A day after Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate alleged that home minister Ravi Naik had allowed the police to book rape charges against his son Rohit while ignoring cases against his own son Roy, an NGO filed a complaint with the Panaji police alleging Roy’s involvement in the murders of Britishers Scarlett Keeling and Stephen Bennett.
The NGO’s complaint was based solely on purported newspaper reports in Britain and posts on the internet.
The NGO, Green Goa Foundation, claimed to take up matters of public interest.
When contacted, SP (North) Bosco George said, “I have not received the copy of the complaint. However, we have investigated the Scarlett case and filed the chargesheet. Now the CBI is investigating the case. Bennett’s murder investigation doesn’t concern Goa police as the incident occurred in Maharashtra.”
Green Goa Foundation said in its complaint that Goa was a high profile tourist destination and it was therefore essential that a wrong impression about the safety and security of foreign tourists is not given.
October 17,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
German minor girl:Rohit’s parents vouch for his innocence
Rohit’s parents vouch for his innocence
Accuse Ravi Naik Of Targeting Their Family, Claim Cops Acting In Biased Manner
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The parents of Rohit Monseratte, who has been accused of raping a minor German girl, on Wednesday night claimed that their son is innocent and that they were trying to locate him. They alleged that home minister Ravi Naik was targeting the education minister and his family and the police were acting in a “biased manner”.
“We are trying to locate Rohit. He is not in the house and we don’t know where he is. It has been over a week and he has not contacted us,” said Rohit’s mother Jennifer Monseratte. Babush however said that Rohit is “very much around”. Speaking to presspersons, Jennifer, who has also been served summons by the Calangute police on Wednesday to appear before them, said, “I am here to give my side of the story. The police have not followed proper procedures in filing the FIR. The girl has neither given her statement nor has she been sent for a medical examination, yet the police has registered a case against my son and accused him of rape”. My son is not even friends with the minor girl, the mother added.
“If there has been rape, when and where was the minor raped? Why is the police working hard to cajole the girl to go for a medical examination? If she was raped she would have willingly gone to the hospital,” she said.
She alleged that the messages may have been manipulated. “I don’t even know who was using the cellphone. Rohit was definitely not using the mobile phone from which the SMSs were sent,” she said.
“Everytime they want to get at my husband, my children are targeted. This time Rohit is being targeted when the mobile is not even in his name. The mobile to which the SMSs were sent is not in the girl’s name but in her mother’s. Maybe someone had sent the SMSs to the mother,” alleged Jennifer. When asked if her husband, in whose name the mobile Rohit used is said to be registered, sent the SMSs to the German woman, she just smiled. Explaining why her son is scared to come home, she said that her children don’t trust the Goa police. “We don’t think our children can be safe with the police, especially after the manner in which my second son Amit was dragged and beaten up by the police in February”, she said.
Casting aspersions on the character of the girl, Jennifer asked, “The minor is not in school. What kind of a girl is she if she can be lured by gifts? Why are the police taking the foreigner’s words as gospel truth. Is this one big conspiracy?” Jennifer also denied going to the German mother’s home. The German mother had alleged that Jennifer had gone to her house on October 3, asking her to withdraw the complaint.
“The police are controlled by the home minister. Why is the police department using a different yardstick for me and my sons and a different yardstick for him and his sons. There were so many allegations against his family but the police never acted,” alleged Babush. Asked if he feared an arrest in this case, he said anything was possible. “They have done it before, and can do it again.” Alleging that the Goa police are biased against his family, he said, “Ravi Naik is targeting me and using the entire police force against me. It’s for the chief minister, cabinet members and other MLAs to realise that today it’s my family but tomorrow it can be their family.
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Accuse Ravi Naik Of Targeting Their Family, Claim Cops Acting In Biased Manner
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The parents of Rohit Monseratte, who has been accused of raping a minor German girl, on Wednesday night claimed that their son is innocent and that they were trying to locate him. They alleged that home minister Ravi Naik was targeting the education minister and his family and the police were acting in a “biased manner”.
“We are trying to locate Rohit. He is not in the house and we don’t know where he is. It has been over a week and he has not contacted us,” said Rohit’s mother Jennifer Monseratte. Babush however said that Rohit is “very much around”. Speaking to presspersons, Jennifer, who has also been served summons by the Calangute police on Wednesday to appear before them, said, “I am here to give my side of the story. The police have not followed proper procedures in filing the FIR. The girl has neither given her statement nor has she been sent for a medical examination, yet the police has registered a case against my son and accused him of rape”. My son is not even friends with the minor girl, the mother added.
“If there has been rape, when and where was the minor raped? Why is the police working hard to cajole the girl to go for a medical examination? If she was raped she would have willingly gone to the hospital,” she said.
She alleged that the messages may have been manipulated. “I don’t even know who was using the cellphone. Rohit was definitely not using the mobile phone from which the SMSs were sent,” she said.
“Everytime they want to get at my husband, my children are targeted. This time Rohit is being targeted when the mobile is not even in his name. The mobile to which the SMSs were sent is not in the girl’s name but in her mother’s. Maybe someone had sent the SMSs to the mother,” alleged Jennifer. When asked if her husband, in whose name the mobile Rohit used is said to be registered, sent the SMSs to the German woman, she just smiled. Explaining why her son is scared to come home, she said that her children don’t trust the Goa police. “We don’t think our children can be safe with the police, especially after the manner in which my second son Amit was dragged and beaten up by the police in February”, she said.
Casting aspersions on the character of the girl, Jennifer asked, “The minor is not in school. What kind of a girl is she if she can be lured by gifts? Why are the police taking the foreigner’s words as gospel truth. Is this one big conspiracy?” Jennifer also denied going to the German mother’s home. The German mother had alleged that Jennifer had gone to her house on October 3, asking her to withdraw the complaint.
“The police are controlled by the home minister. Why is the police department using a different yardstick for me and my sons and a different yardstick for him and his sons. There were so many allegations against his family but the police never acted,” alleged Babush. Asked if he feared an arrest in this case, he said anything was possible. “They have done it before, and can do it again.” Alleging that the Goa police are biased against his family, he said, “Ravi Naik is targeting me and using the entire police force against me. It’s for the chief minister, cabinet members and other MLAs to realise that today it’s my family but tomorrow it can be their family.
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Prostitution racket busted at Porvorim
Prostitution racket busted at Porvorim
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Crime branch sleuths busted a prostitution racket operating from a car on NH 17 at O Coqueiro junction, Porvorim and rescued three women. However, the person accused of procuring girls for running the racket is absconding.
Investigating officer PI (crime branch) Sunita Sawant said, “Acting on information that a man was getting girls in Wagon R to the junction for the purpose of prostitution, we reached the spot when we saw three women sitting in the wagon R. Nobody was in the driver’s seat and these three women
were sitting in the back seat.”
According to the PI, these women were brought to Goa with a promise of a job in the hotel industry. When they reached Goa from Mumbai, they were pushed into prostitution and told that they would be paid Rs 15,000 at the end of 15 days. The girls, two of them from West Bengal and one from Assam, all in their early twenties, said they had come by bus from Mumbai two days back and were picked up by one Patel from the Panaji bus stand.
They were taken to the same spot everyday at 5 pm and picked up the next morning. Explaining the modus operandi, PI Sawant said, “Patel would park the car with the women near the Karnataka bank and then go to the busy junction at Porvorim to procure customers. The customers had to hire a taxi in which they took the women for the night. Next morning, the women had to be dropped at the same spot”, said PI Sawant. According to the women, the customers had to pay Rs 6,000 per night to Patel, of which Rs 1000 was paid to the girls.
Patel has been booked by the police for procuring girls, forcing them into prostitution, living on their earnings and indulging in prostitution within 200m of the place of worship, ie the Holy Family church.
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Crime branch sleuths busted a prostitution racket operating from a car on NH 17 at O Coqueiro junction, Porvorim and rescued three women. However, the person accused of procuring girls for running the racket is absconding.
Investigating officer PI (crime branch) Sunita Sawant said, “Acting on information that a man was getting girls in Wagon R to the junction for the purpose of prostitution, we reached the spot when we saw three women sitting in the wagon R. Nobody was in the driver’s seat and these three women
were sitting in the back seat.”
According to the PI, these women were brought to Goa with a promise of a job in the hotel industry. When they reached Goa from Mumbai, they were pushed into prostitution and told that they would be paid Rs 15,000 at the end of 15 days. The girls, two of them from West Bengal and one from Assam, all in their early twenties, said they had come by bus from Mumbai two days back and were picked up by one Patel from the Panaji bus stand.
They were taken to the same spot everyday at 5 pm and picked up the next morning. Explaining the modus operandi, PI Sawant said, “Patel would park the car with the women near the Karnataka bank and then go to the busy junction at Porvorim to procure customers. The customers had to hire a taxi in which they took the women for the night. Next morning, the women had to be dropped at the same spot”, said PI Sawant. According to the women, the customers had to pay Rs 6,000 per night to Patel, of which Rs 1000 was paid to the girls.
Patel has been booked by the police for procuring girls, forcing them into prostitution, living on their earnings and indulging in prostitution within 200m of the place of worship, ie the Holy Family church.
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa
German minors case;Twist in tale: Girl tries to save Rohit
Twist in tale: Girl tries to save Rohit
Refuses To Testify, Revolts Against Mother
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: In a fresh twist to the alleged rape case involving the Goa education minister’s elder son Rohit and a German minor, the girl has refused to give her statement to the police and subject herself to a medical examination.
“We can’t wait too long. If the girl fails to give her statement, we will have a difficult case on our hands,” said superintendent of police (North) Bosco George. “She is under psychological counselling and we are hopeful that she will give her statement,” he added.
The police are still searching for Rohit, who is absconding. “If he thinks he is innocent, Babush should produce his son before the police,” said George. The option of arresting Babush is also open, he added. The police have provided armed security to the mother and daughter.
A police team, along with a child activist, had gone to the minor’s residence on Tuesday night to convince her to give her statement and submit herself to a medical examination. “However, the minor threw a tantrum, locked herself up in a room and refused to meet anyone,” said a police official. On Wednesday, a police team accompanied by a child activist and a child clinical psychologist again went to meet the girl and her mother.
Police sources said the minor’s statement and medical examination is crucial to the case as the mother’s complaint on Tuesday had alleged that state education minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate’s son Rohit had sexually assaulted her daughter, outraged her modesty and raped her, offences punishable under section 354 and 376 of IPC.
However, Aires Rodrigues, the woman’s counsel, said the girl’s statement is not important as copies of SMSs sent by Rohit have been produced before the police. “The case will not fall apart. As per the Goa Children’s Act, the onus is on the accused to prove he is not guilty. Let Rohit prove that he has not sexually abused the minor,” he said.
Rodrigues added that the girl will give her statement and even go for a medical examination. At the moment, the mother is going through a trauma and the child is also scared, he said, adding, “The minor is under pressure from Rohit and is protective of him.”
Recollecting about a call the mother received from her minor daughter after she filed a complaint on October 2 at Calangute police station, Rodrigues said, “She called her mother and asked her to withdraw the complaint as she didn’t want Rohit to get into any trouble.”
The mother has also said that the daughter is upset and confused. “She thinks of Rohit as a friend and believes that I am against her friends. But I explained to her that what he did was wrong,” added the mother.
Police officials said they have asked for the call details of both Rohit and the minor girl. The police also handed over the FIR to the children’s court.
German consulate takes up case, writes to Goa
Panaji: Adding to the embarrassment of the Digambar Kamat government, the German consulate in Mumbai has written to the chief secretary regarding the sexual assault on a German minor girl allegedly by the state education minister’s elder son.
The German consulate requested chief secretary J P Singh to “ensure that the criminal investigation is pursued vigorously and that the safety of Ms X (name withheld) and her daughter is not compromised”. “The consulate general and our embassy in New Delhi have been seized of this matter and we are following the case with great concern,” the consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany, Walter Stechel, wrote. TNN
MONSERRATES DEFEND THEIR SON
Why are police trying to cajole the girl to go for a medical examination? If she was raped, she would have gone willingly to hospital.
The mobile to which SMSs were sent is in the mother’s name. Maybe someone was sending them to her
Police are controlled by the home minister. They never acted on allegations against his family
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Refuses To Testify, Revolts Against Mother
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: In a fresh twist to the alleged rape case involving the Goa education minister’s elder son Rohit and a German minor, the girl has refused to give her statement to the police and subject herself to a medical examination.
“We can’t wait too long. If the girl fails to give her statement, we will have a difficult case on our hands,” said superintendent of police (North) Bosco George. “She is under psychological counselling and we are hopeful that she will give her statement,” he added.
The police are still searching for Rohit, who is absconding. “If he thinks he is innocent, Babush should produce his son before the police,” said George. The option of arresting Babush is also open, he added. The police have provided armed security to the mother and daughter.
A police team, along with a child activist, had gone to the minor’s residence on Tuesday night to convince her to give her statement and submit herself to a medical examination. “However, the minor threw a tantrum, locked herself up in a room and refused to meet anyone,” said a police official. On Wednesday, a police team accompanied by a child activist and a child clinical psychologist again went to meet the girl and her mother.
Police sources said the minor’s statement and medical examination is crucial to the case as the mother’s complaint on Tuesday had alleged that state education minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate’s son Rohit had sexually assaulted her daughter, outraged her modesty and raped her, offences punishable under section 354 and 376 of IPC.
However, Aires Rodrigues, the woman’s counsel, said the girl’s statement is not important as copies of SMSs sent by Rohit have been produced before the police. “The case will not fall apart. As per the Goa Children’s Act, the onus is on the accused to prove he is not guilty. Let Rohit prove that he has not sexually abused the minor,” he said.
Rodrigues added that the girl will give her statement and even go for a medical examination. At the moment, the mother is going through a trauma and the child is also scared, he said, adding, “The minor is under pressure from Rohit and is protective of him.”
Recollecting about a call the mother received from her minor daughter after she filed a complaint on October 2 at Calangute police station, Rodrigues said, “She called her mother and asked her to withdraw the complaint as she didn’t want Rohit to get into any trouble.”
The mother has also said that the daughter is upset and confused. “She thinks of Rohit as a friend and believes that I am against her friends. But I explained to her that what he did was wrong,” added the mother.
Police officials said they have asked for the call details of both Rohit and the minor girl. The police also handed over the FIR to the children’s court.
German consulate takes up case, writes to Goa
Panaji: Adding to the embarrassment of the Digambar Kamat government, the German consulate in Mumbai has written to the chief secretary regarding the sexual assault on a German minor girl allegedly by the state education minister’s elder son.
The German consulate requested chief secretary J P Singh to “ensure that the criminal investigation is pursued vigorously and that the safety of Ms X (name withheld) and her daughter is not compromised”. “The consulate general and our embassy in New Delhi have been seized of this matter and we are following the case with great concern,” the consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany, Walter Stechel, wrote. TNN
MONSERRATES DEFEND THEIR SON
Why are police trying to cajole the girl to go for a medical examination? If she was raped, she would have gone willingly to hospital.
The mobile to which SMSs were sent is in the mother’s name. Maybe someone was sending them to her
Police are controlled by the home minister. They never acted on allegations against his family
October 16,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
German minor girl:Threats to girl’s mom
Threats to girl’s mom
Panaji: The German woman who filed a police complaint against Rohit Monserrate was allegedly threatened by a friend of the education minister. The woman alleges that a woman known to her visited her home on Monday and said she was a friend of the minister. She advised the German woman not to go ahead with the case if “I intended to live in Goa”. “I was told that the minister wanted to meet me. She called me again in the afternoon to go to his house but I was too scared and didn’t take her call,” she alleged. TNN I knew there would be trouble, says girl’s mother
Panaji: The German woman who has lodged a complaint against the state education minister’s son said she has received threats. Stating that she is scared, the German woman said, “I am shocked that they can stoop to such a level. When I complained against the minister’s son to the police, I knew there would be trouble in store for me. But I had to do it for the sake of my daughter.”
“My daughter is a bit confused, but fine. Rohit was destroying her life. Forcing her into smoking and drinking, besides abusing her. My daughter is a minor, she was depressed and tried to commit suicide,” added the mother.
The German woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues, who is in hospital, said, “As legal counsel we will make sure that the mother and the girl are safe.”
The German woman is in India on an X-visa, which permits the mother and daughter to stay together, the daughter is on a student visa valid upto May 2010.
October 15,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Panaji: The German woman who filed a police complaint against Rohit Monserrate was allegedly threatened by a friend of the education minister. The woman alleges that a woman known to her visited her home on Monday and said she was a friend of the minister. She advised the German woman not to go ahead with the case if “I intended to live in Goa”. “I was told that the minister wanted to meet me. She called me again in the afternoon to go to his house but I was too scared and didn’t take her call,” she alleged. TNN I knew there would be trouble, says girl’s mother
Panaji: The German woman who has lodged a complaint against the state education minister’s son said she has received threats. Stating that she is scared, the German woman said, “I am shocked that they can stoop to such a level. When I complained against the minister’s son to the police, I knew there would be trouble in store for me. But I had to do it for the sake of my daughter.”
“My daughter is a bit confused, but fine. Rohit was destroying her life. Forcing her into smoking and drinking, besides abusing her. My daughter is a minor, she was depressed and tried to commit suicide,” added the mother.
The German woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues, who is in hospital, said, “As legal counsel we will make sure that the mother and the girl are safe.”
The German woman is in India on an X-visa, which permits the mother and daughter to stay together, the daughter is on a student visa valid upto May 2010.
October 15,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
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
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
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