Panaji: A civil rights group in Goa has demanded that all policemen present in Panaji town police station during the custodial killing of NRI Cypriano Fernandes, be transferred to make way for "fair probe".
Utt Goenakar, an organisation which along with the family members of Fernandes exposed the custodial killing has also demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the matter.
The 39-year-old seafarer, on a holiday in Goa was arrested on January 6 after his lady friend complained against him. Later, he died in police custody here.
The crime branch is investigating the custodial killing, confirmed by sub divisional magistrate`s report. The SDM had initiated an inquiry and concluded that Cypriano died due to head injuries which he received while in custody.
Utt Goenkara President John Yury Lobo told reporters that police department has miserably failed to take action against its own police officers.
"We demand that all the police personnel who were present in Panaji town police station on the day of incident should be immediately transferred for the purpose of fair, proper and transparent investigation," he said.
Lobo recalled that police department`s internal report had pointed out that there were procedural lapses.
Following the report, three officers Inspector Sandesh Chodankar, Sub Inspector Radhesh Ramnathkar and Head constable Sandip Shirvaikar, were suspended.
"Death in a police custody is horrendous crime. What happened in Cypriano`s case is a blot on Goa police," he said.
The family members of Cypriano have refused to accept the dead body demanding that all the guilty police officers should be arrested.
PTI
