UGDP DEMANDS ARREST OF THE THREE COPS OF CRIME BRANCH

MARGAO: The United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) has demanded immediate arrest of crime branch DySP Chandrakant Salgaonkar, PI Sunita Sawant and PI Pravinkumar Vast, and their interrogations in judicial custody, in the case pertaining to the death of police constable Chandru Gawas. Addressing mediapersons on Thursday.

UGDP secretary general Anacleto Viegas, said: "Dy SP Chandrakant Salgoankar, PI Sunita Sawant and PI Pravinkumar Vast have been named by Chandru Gawas in his dying declaration before the magistrate. By law, those named in the dying declaration should be detained, arrested and interrogated in judicial custody."

Pointing out to the suspicious death of Arossim resident Melwyn Gomes, Viegas charged the police with "pressurizing" relatives of the deceased to undertake immediate burial of the body "without conducting panchanama, inquiry or even collecting circumstantial evidence." Alleging that PI Jivba Dalvi had a bad record of investigations, Viegas demanded his dismissal from service.

Lamenting over the deterioration in the law and order situation in the state, Viegas suggested that an independent wing be carved out exclusively for investigations, while the police be left to manage law and order. He also advised the DGP to maintain a profile of all police personnel in the backdrop of the rise in complaints of police being involved in drug peddling, corruption and matka gambling. Viegas further demanded that a forensic laboratory be immediately started in Goa. – TNN