Vasco rape: Parents point finger at headmistress kins
By John Edwards, Panaji, Feb 27 : A fresh revelation Wednesday surfaced in the rape of a seven year old rape victim when the advocate, representing her parents in the Goa Children's Court, accused headmistress' kith and kin of being involved in the horrific act. Arguing on behalf of the victim's father, advocate Aires Rodrigues launched a scathing attack on the police for trying to hush up the case to protect the accused. The Court presided over by Judge Anuja Prabhudesai was hearing the concluding arguments in connection with a petition filed by the girl's father demanding arrest of the school authorities for destroying evidences.
The grade II student was allegedly raped in the toilet of the primary school at Vasco run by the Mormugao Port Trust during recess, on Jan 14.
Naming the three men, the counsel alleged Monty Sanches, the nephew of the Headmistress of the school Sharlet Furtado, was the rapist. The headmistress is currently on bail on charges of negligence of duty.
"The victim had identified his photo when shown to her. The child also disclosed that the son of the headmistress Ashville Furtado and another nephew Sartek Varghese were seen in the school premises with Monty on various occasions prior to the rape," he said.
He has demanded that Monty, Ashville and Sartek be interrogated and subjected to identification parade.
PP Sardinha submitted to the Court that the child was given a bath after the rape to avoid any infections. She produced call details of the three persons to establish they were not at Vasco when the incident happened.
The Judge has finalized March 4 to pronounce verdict on the petition.