Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: A day after the transfer of Fatorda Police Station in-charge PI Nathan Almeida, the Goa Police on Sunday suspended an Assistant Sub-Inspector attached to the same police station in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Gogol Masjid murder case.
Senior police officials said the ASI was placed under suspension for allegedly failing to follow prescribed procedures and instructions issued by senior officers during the initial handling of the case. At the time of the incident, the officer was serving as the duty officer at the Fatorda police station.
According to police sources, the ASI had been instructed to move four accused persons from Fatorda to Margao as a preventive step on the day of the incident. However, instead of acting on the directions, the accused were reportedly kept in the lock-up at the Fatorda police station.
The issue came to light after a group of individuals approached Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Margao, Sidhant Shirodkar, and complained about receiving threatening messages allegedly sent by one of the accused who was already in police custody.
A subsequent inquiry conducted by South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verna reportedly revealed serious procedural lapses. The inquiry indicated that the arrested accused were not properly searched, which allegedly allowed them to retain access to their mobile phones while in custody.
Meanwhile, police said that the total number of arrests in the Gogol Masjid murder case has now increased to seven. Investigators also indicated that more developments are expected, with the possibility of some wanted persons surrendering before the Fatorda police within the next couple of days.
