Man suffers head injury after assault in cop custody, PSI suspended

Margao: Police sub-inspector Nilesh Shirwaikar, attached to the Margao town police station, has been suspended following an assault on Navelim resident Edberg Pereira while in police custody earlier this week.

South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma said that a preliminary inquiry found Shirwaikar guilty and that a departmental inquiry will now follow.The incident occurred late on Tuesday night when police picked up Pereira from Navelim after they received a complaint that he was creating a nuisance to the public in an intoxicated condition. He was taken to Margao police station, where he allegedly continued his disruptive behaviour and verbally abused the police personnel.

With most personnel deployed for the FC Goa vs Al-Nassr match at Fatorda that day, the on-duty staff allegedly resorted to physical force to restrain him.Pereira sustained serious head injuries during the incident and was rushed to Goa Medical College, Bambolim. At the GMC, the case was categorised as that of “assault”, and Pereira was diagnosed to have suffered subdural hematoma — a blood clot in the brain cavity.

He continues to undergo treatment in GMC’s neurosurgery ward, a police source said.The source also said that in violation of rules, Pereira was handcuffed while being taken to the hospital for his medical examination. Verma said that a thorough departmental inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the case.