------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margao boy's death: constable's act was in good faith, say cops --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Additional Superintendent of Police, Mr Shekhar Prabhudesai has clarified regarding the death of the 10-year-old boy in Margao. He has stated that the act of the police constable and municipal staff in bringing the boy to the police station was in good faith to reform him.
In a press note issued today he has said that it is the duty of every citizen to realise the growing problem of helpless street children who cultivate bad habits.
The general public should get together to find a solution to deal with the problem of street children he said instead of casting aspersions on the police.
Mr Prabhu Desai further said that the constable and the municipal staff did their job by responding to the situation, however the death was a tragedy.
He said that being a minor child it was least expected from him to jump from the van and flee. The constable treated the child with care, he was not secured since he was not a criminal and was escorted to the police station to be reformed.
He has said in his press note that the Margao town police have registered an offence under section 279 and 304(A) of IPC and the driver involved has been arrested. He has clarified that the minors are not locked in the lockup and in the cases where the minors are involved, NGOs are associated to maintain transparency in investigations.
According to him everyday, a traffic constable from Margao accompanies the traffic van provided by the municipality and assisted by MMC staff to lift vehicles which are wrongly parked and obstructing traffic. These vehicles are brought to the traffic cell and suitably challaned.
On March 30, Mr Saibaba M Sakali, police constable was deputed on the
said traffic van for lifting duty. At 10.50 hrs. the traffic van half full with lifted
vehicles i.e. around 4 vehicles reached behind municipality and noticed
one boy walking in a dazed condition on the road. As it could lead to fatal
consequences the boy was thus escorted into the traffic van to be taken
to the police station for further formalities.
On reaching near the police canteen, the boy suddenly jumped off the vehicle
and fled towards the State Bank side. Taken by surprise, the municipal staff
shouted for help to apprehend him. Just about 50 meters from the van the
fleeing boy came under the rear tyre of the garbage collecting municipal vehicle.
Meanwhile, Margao police today said that the body of the ten year old boy was handed over to his family members. Police said that an inquiry is being conducted in the case. ------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 3/4/04 page 3 -------------------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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