CALLS BY G. P. NAIK TRACED TO VIOLENCE SUSPECTS by Vibha Verma – Brought to you by DLP, Oman

*Call details traced by Crime Branch  *More data to be extracted from Naik’s mobile  *Call records of other officers under scrutiny

It’s a revelation which can have serious implications on investigations into the Balli violence and killings. The Crime Branch investigating six separate cases registered during and after the violence at Balli have found that the then South Goa Collector had made calls to two of the main suspects behind the violence before ordering a lathi charge on the tribals.

These suspects have been questioned by the Crime Branch in connection with their alleged role in orchestrating the violent attack on the Adarsh Society building controlled by tribal leader Prakash Velip and setting it on fire, leading to the death of two tribal activists. The suspects include Deepak Faldessai, Prashant Faldessai and Narendra Faldessai.

“We are checking his call details during the two hours of the incident and post violence. We have learnt that Naik made few calls to some protestors, who are suspects in our case investigation. We may also extract data from his mobile phone,” said a senior officer requesting anonymity.

The Crime Branch officer further said that a DySP is exclusively assigned to gather the call details of all officials, including Mamlatdar, police officials and others on duty when the gruesome violence broke out.

Sources further inform that a six-member team is investigating into six cases related to the Balli incident. The police transferred all six cases – five registered at Cuncolim police station and one at Konkan Railway police - to the Crime Branch for speedy investigation on May 28.

Naik was suspended a day before his retirement for mishandling the incident at Balli wherein two tribal leaders were burnt to death.  His suspension has drawn flak from various quarters. A retired police officer V V Verenkar has strongly condemned the government for suspending Naik without holding any preliminary inquiry.

Two protesters Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip were burnt alive allegedly by a mob at a cashew factory, following the violence over tribals’ demand for implementing reservation in government jobs in the State among others.