----------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be better informed CONSUMERS. ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- Murder victim's sister blames cops --------------------------------------- Had the Ponda police taken stern and prompt action against the accused Mahanand Ramnath Naik after Vasanti Anant Gaude's death in September 1995 and Darshana Naik's death a year before, Yogita Naik, the girl killed in 2009, may have survived, said Vasanti's elder sister.
Alleging that the Ponda police work under political influence, Jenny Anant Gaude alias Jenny Babani Gaude, Vasanti's elder sister, said that the family had lodged a complaint of kidnapping against the accused, soon after she disappeared. However, Naik was released by the Ponda police few hours after his arrest. "His release gave him the impetus to carry on committing more crimes," Jenny charged. She alleged that the police had even called both parties for discussion. "Despite this, the police paid no heed to our words and freed the accused." Claiming that the accused has a "sharp criminal mind", she said that they still do not know where he met Vasanti. "However on September 10, 1995, Mahanand had come to our house at Vadalwada, Marcaim. But, we do not know what he told her (Vasanti). My sister was happy and went to meet her cousin brother at Wadi to fetch the passbook of her bank account," Jenny told TOI. Before being done to death, the victim was working as a domestic help in Khadpabandh, Ponda. Prior to the incident, Vasanti was at home and the accused had come to their house in a rickshaw bearing registration number GA 01, W 0929. On September 11, 1995, they came to the Ponda bus stand where the accused used to park his rickshaw. On reaching the bus stand, the accused took her in his rickshaw and went towards Shantinagar, Ponda. Vasanti's cousin brother had been waiting for her at the bank but since she failed to show up, her cousin left for home. On September 13, Vasanti's family members lodged a complaint with the Ponda police against the accused for kidnapping her. However, the police arrested the accused under Section 41 (suspicion) of the Criminal Procedure Code and released him after conducting a preliminary inquiry. Not satisfied with the action taken by the police, the family members on September 22 lodged another complaint with the deputy collector of Ponda. "However, all our efforts went in vain," Jenny recollected. -------------------------------------- Times of India (Goa) 04/5/09 page 2 -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
