Assault on tribal activist in jail: Goa CM waiting for report

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said he was waiting for prison officials' report on assault on a tribal activist in judicial custody.
Ravindra Velip, the victim, has alleged that a BJP legislator and a mining firm owner were behind the attack.
"I am waiting for the report from prison authorities. Once I get the report I can decide the course of action," Parsekar told reporters here.
Velip was assaulted inside Sada sub-jail on Wednesday before he was released on bail. He was amongst several persons from the tribal community of Cauvrem village arrested for opposing transportation of iron ore by a mining firm.

In his police complaint, Velip says that outsiders were involved in the attack.
"When I was going to toilet...Was suddenly attacked from behind by at least four persons, who blindfolded and gagged me with a cloth and then went on to beat me," the complaint says.

"I was lifted and thrown down from a height, resulting in multiple fractures to my forearm...When I was lying down, I was mercilessly beaten with boots and fists. I managed to remove the gag and started screaming, at which the beating stopped immediately and the attackers fled," he said.
"When I left the cell, I was the only one outside and all other inmates of my cell were inside. It is clear that the persons who attacked me were others....I was attacked by persons wearing boots and no prisoner was wearing boots," he says in the complaint.

Prison superintendent and other officials, Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai, owners of Fomento Mines, mining contractor Santosh Gaonkar and others conspired to attack him, he says.
MLA Phaldesai, when contacted, denied the allegation. "The allegations are false. I had no role in assault," he said.
Local tribals have been opposing the mining activity at Cauvrem village for long.