Cops’ ‘VIP treatment’ to Delhiite who killed local leaves Mandrem livid

Panaji: It may be one of the first cases in Goa police history wherein, within a few hours, the investigation of a murder case was completed, and the Delhi man, 23-year-old Deepan Rajeev Batra, was sent to judicial custody on Saturday. But before the Goa police could bask in glory, they made themselves infamous by providing Batra with “VIP treatment” on Monday after he was taken into police custody following a furore by Mandrem locals.
A tense situation was witnessed at Mandrem police station after residents gathered outside on Monday night. They noticed that the murder accused, Batra, was being taken in a private car with the air conditioner on.
The residents forced police to take Batra out of the private car into the police station. The PSI told residents that as there was only one police vehicle, which was taken by Mandrem PI, they were shifting Batra to Pernem police station lock up in a private vehicle.
“The accused is getting VIP treatment. We all villagers have witnessed what kind of VIP treatment is being given to accused Batra. When villagers saw the car moving with the accused with AC on and when they agitated, police reversed their vehicle,” Mandrem resident Prasad Shahapurkar said.
Goa police arrested Batra on Saturday after he ran over a Mandrem resident, Maria Joao Fernandes, with his four-wheeler following an altercation over some dog issue. Fernandes succumbed to her injuries. By Saturday evening Batra was remanded in judicial custody.
“North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal told Mandrem PI Sherif Jaques that if the recovery in the case is completed and statements have been recorded, then the accused can be sent to judicial custody,” Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar told TOI.
Unhappy with the hasty probe and the decision of the Goa police not to take Batra into custody, Mandrem residents started agitating. Arolkar also raised the issue with chief minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the home portfolio.
Following outcry from the Mandrem residents at the gram sabha on Sunday, Goa police approached the court on Monday to seek Batra’s custody for investigation.
“Due to the shoddy probe, villagers have taken a resolution at the gram sabha that Mandrem PI should be transferred. It will be discussed at the fortnightly panchayat meeting, and we will forward our resolution to the home department,” Mandrem sarpanch Rajesh Mandrekar said.
Shahapurkar said that Mandrem police completed the murder investigation within a day. But when there was pressure from the locals, they again moved an application for police custody on Monday.
“Mandrem police, in the remand application, said that they completed the investigation and don’t want his custody,” Shahapurkar said.