FIR against forest officials as Bhatkal youngsters allege torture in custody
The complainant who was in the custody has bruises all over his body
Bhatkal: An FIR has been registered against more than 20 forest officials including Bhatkal Sub-division ACF and RFO for allegedly harassing and threatening two people from Bhatkal who were picnicking in Bedkoor village near Manki.
An FIR in Manki Police Station is booked under section 143, 147, 149, 341, 324, 504, 506 against over 20 forest officials including ACF Balachandra, RFO Shankar Gowda, Manki RFO, Santosh, Ravi and others.
The complainant Umair Saeed Ruknuddin stated, he along with his friend was on his way to Bhatkal from Bedkoor after picnicking overnight in the village when he was stopped by the forest official who charged allegations of animal hunting on the duo and took them to their office.
The complainant Umer Saeed Rukunuddin, in his complaint further stated that he was wrongly subjected to harassment and third degree torture in unlawful confinement by the officials.
“We were taken pictures with remains of the animals hunted by somebody else to make a point that we hunted the animals. We were given third degree treatment in the custody and were subjected to torture for whole day” Umair told Vartha Bharati in a Mangaluru hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
“We were beaten black and blue, we were threatened that if we don’t confess about hunting the animals then acid will be poured on our private parts. One of the officers, Shankar Gowda also used his revolver to threaten us. He placed his revolver on my head, with three bullets and three empty slots and pulled the trigger posing threat to my life” Umair alleged.
“Steel rods, butt plates of rifle, bamboo sticks, revolvers, chairs and other stuffs were used to hit us when we were tied to our chairs” Umair added.
The following night, both the accused were taken to Bhatkal Taluka Hospital where the forest officials were given ‘Medically fit’ certificate of the duo by the duty doctor, a move termed as “Part of the conspiracy” by Umair’s uncle and prominent social worker of Bhatkal Nisar Ruknuddin (Top).
“From the hospital we were taken to Karwar jail where the authorities didn’t allow us inside the jail initially after looking at our condition, but the forest officials took the authorities in the confidence and we were kept in the jail. On next morning we were taken to Karwar District Hospital where the doctors said we needed immediate medical attention” Umair recalls.
After securing bail nearly one week after their arrest, Umair with the intention of filing complaint against the forest officials visited Bhatkal Taluka Hospital for medical tests. From there he was referred to Mangaluru hospital. After completing test in Mangaluru and receiving treatment Umair filed an FIR on Sunday 24 March.
The family and friends of Umair are now calling for strict actions against the accused officers and have went on to demand suspension of the officers for such treatment to the citizens.
“Forest officials of Bhatkal have been very rude and has displayed uncharacteristic temper over the last few years. They have been torturous to people for minor issues. They have mentally tortured people who are living on encroached lands from decades. These are the same officers involved in the whole thing, we don’t know what is the problem they have with people of Bhatkal. All this should be taken into account and appropriate action should be taken against them, this is not acceptable and against one’s civil and human rights” one of Umair’s close friend who was present in the hospital told Vartha Bharati.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
