Family members of Cipriano Fernandes who died in police custody, have refused to take possession of his body and vowed that they will not take it till the police personnel responsible are punished. Cipriano’s cousin, Cosme said that they will explore every possible avenue to seek justice to his dead cousin by ensuring that those responsible are brought to book.
Cipriano was arrested by Panjim police on 7th January after his girlfriend lodged a complaint of threat and thrashed by the police. He was admitted to Goa Medical College at around 11:00 am on 8th January and died at the hospital on 9th January at 6:45 am.
The post mortem report revealed injury marks on the body but the cause of death is not yet noted as the chemical report is awaited.
Cipriano’s family has demanded action against Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar, Police Sub-Inspectors Radesh Ramnathkar and Vijay Chodankar and constable Sandip Shirvaikar.
Meanwhile, North Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas today submitted a report on the case to the Goa State
Police Complaint Authority that had suo motto taken cognizance of the incident and asked for a report. Arvind Gawas has also reportedly submitted a report to the National Human Rights Commission. There are two separate probes in the incident, while one is being conducted by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shabhaji
Shetye and another one by Deputy Superintendent of Police Bossuete da Silva.
