PROBE NOT REQUIRED IN ATALA'S MISSING CASE

Goa Police on Wednesday admitted a delay of almost 45 days to issue Look out Circular (LOC) against Israeli drug peddler Yaniv alias Atala Benaim ever since he was missing on July 7. What was the IO doing all the while inspite of knowing that the drug dealer had skipped the bail and just vanished.

Home Minister Ravi Naik talking to Media

Police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande admitted that Atala’s disappearance will damage the police-drug nexus probe. “Atala was called on August 7 at Crime Branch for clarification relating to investigation. By then he had already checked out from the Angels Resort at Porvorim, address which he provided to the police after his conditional release…We have moved for cancellation of his bail at Narcotics and Drugs Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court…” the officer informed reporters today evening, the PRO had denied in the beginning but now admitted that Atala has jumped the bail.

The revelation comes close on the heels of criticisms against police department over Atala’s sudden disappearance. When asked about the delay in seeking LOC against the drug peddler, the officer tried to conceal the reason by stating that the Crime Branch might have been trying to locate him whereas earlier the investigating officer Chandrakant Salgaoncar had said that the missing Atala was not an absconder and they would try to trace him. Whereas Atmaram Deshpande the PRO said “It is quite possible that Investigating Agency (Crime Branch) was making efforts to trace Atala and hence there was a delay in seeking LOC.”

Though there are strong apprehensions that Atala probably escaped from the state soon after he checked out of the hotel he was staying at Porvorim, the police department has launched a massive manhunt and teams have been sent to neighbouring places like Gokarna, Sindhudurg, etc to trace him.

Bhartiya Janata Party on Tuesday accused police officers including Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi let Atala jump off the bail knowingly. They also alleged that the home minister was involved in with the drug dealer and the police drug nexus. The NCP too have been at the heels of the home minister and have been constantly demanding a CBI probe into the case along with BJP.Mr Manohar Parrikar opposition leader said that it was almost two months that Atala has been missing and that the police kept silent on it inspite of knowing the fact. Mr. Parrikar also said that they would now approach the high court asking for a CBI probe into the police drug nexus.

Atala has been earlier been convicted of possessing narcotics and over staying, both in 2006. On December 16, 2006 Atala was again arrested by Anjuna police for overstaying his visa and was convicted of overstaying and was sentenced minimal punishment of five days simple imprisonment which he did not serve as he was already in custody during the period. Presently a case of over staying is slammed on the drug dealer.

Though the Goa police have moved the court for issuing look out notices against Atala, who has been missing since last two months, the Home Minister Ravi Naik said that he feels that no formal inquiry is required in his disappearing. Ravi Naik in a press conference said “The police have moved the court for issuing look out notice against Atala. Naik also said that the airports, Foreign Registration Offices have been notified and alerted about the drug dealer Atala. The Home Minister also denied that he had ordered any inquiry into the disappearance of Atala.

“We have approached the NDPS court for cancellation of his bail. But…I don’t think there is any requirement for an inquiry into his disappearance,” he stated. Naik, whose son has been linked to drug trade, said that he was misquoted by media and he never said he would order an inquiry.  Goa's news channel Prudent media had reported that Ravi Naik had ordered an inquiry into the matter.  According to the home minister when reporters spoke to him he only said he would look into it but was misquoted by them saying that he had actually ordered an in enquiry into it. The Home Minister also said that since it was not the failure on the part of the police. To the question whether Atala’s vanishing is serious or no, he replied negatively. As per the home minister Atala’s statement had already been recorded and that he was not arrested for possessing drugs. The conditional bail to Atala was granted by the NDPS court at a hard argument by the defense lawyer Swapnil Nashinolcar. The conditions of the bail prevented Atala from leaving the state and was required to attend the crime branch and the court if and when ordered to do so. (Prudent Media News Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkPxSFq2Ybw&feature=player_embedded )