Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jun 22: The Goa Congress on Monday demanded registration of a criminal case against five policemen accused of custodial abuse of four persons, including a minor, alleging that the victims were forced to perform sexual acts inside a police station.

Addressing reporters, Goa Congress spokesperson Amit Palekar said the alleged incident took place at Maina-Curtorim Police Station on June 6 following a clash between two groups, after which three persons were arrested and a minor was detained.

The Congress leader said the police department had already suspended sub-inspectors Sanket Naik and Gaurav Naik, along with constables Chetan Koli, Samir Sudhir and Pundalik Parit, holding them responsible for the incident.

However, he said the party had sought criminal proceedings against the accused policemen during its meeting with Director General of Police Alok Kumar, citing that one of the alleged victims was a minor.

“A case under the Goa Children’s Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act should be registered against the accused policemen. There is an allegation that the victims were asked to perform sexual acts while in police custody,” Palekar alleged.

A Congress delegation comprising Palekar, Samil Volvoikar, Goa Youth Congress president Archit Naik, women’s wing chief Pratiksha Khalap and others met the DGP at the Police Headquarters in Panaji and raised the issue.

Archit Naik warned that if police stations became unsafe for citizens, the party would be forced to take further action.

The DGP was unavailable for comments on the matter despite attempts to contact him.