the goan I network
MARGAO
Has the promised fast-track court to try the three accused in the Betalbatim gangrape case set up by the government as requested by the Goa police?
This question has come to the fore as the Colva police, which had promised to file the chargesheet at the earliest, is bracing up to chargesheet the three accused in the court of law.
The Goa police had told the media soon after the arrest of the three accused from Indore that the police would move the government to constitute a fast track court for an expeditious trial in the gangrape of the 20-year old girl.
It would be two months on July 24 since the gangrape incident reported at the Betalbatim’s Sunset beach had sent shockwaves across the State, but the fast track court is still not in place. It could not be ascertained whether the delay in the constitution of the fast track court is the reason behind the delay by the Colva police to file a chargesheet in the case.
When The Goan called up district police chief, SP Arvind Gawas to shed light on the status of the promised fast track court, he stated that the proposal is under the active consideration of the government. “We had written to the government to set up the fast track court to ensure quick trial in the case. Though the fast track court is not set up as yet, the proposal is under the active consideration of the government,” SP Gawas said.
He, however, hastened to add that the delay in constituting the fast track court has no relation whatsoever with the filing of the chargesheet. “The chargesheet is normally filed before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, which then commits the case to the court of Sessions,” he said.
SP Gawas pointed out that the chargesheet is almost ready and would be filed in the court after giving the final touches. “The chargesheet against the three accused persons is ready and the Colva police is giving touches to the chargesheet,” he said, adding that the chargesheet may come in one of these days.
The Goa police had assured civil society as well as citizens that the police would request the government to set up a special fast track court to expedite trial in the Betalbatim gangrape.
The trio from Indore had gang-raped a 20-year old girl at the Sunset beach at knife point when she along with her boyfriend had gone out on the beach on late May 24 night. The incident had triggered anger and awe and had raised the issue over the quality of tourist visiting the State.
The trio, including the dreaded Ishwar Macwana, who is accused in a couple of robberies cum murders in his home state, was nabbed by a specially constituted police team after the accused demanded ransom from the victims.
