Magisterial inquiry report into Velip 'assault' likely this week

Panaji: Additional collector North Swapnil Naik, is likely to submit the magisterial inquiry report into the alleged assault on mining activist and Cavrem panch member Ravindra Velip, in Sada sub-jail by the end of this week.
Twenty-five statements of witnesses have been recorded during the course of the inquiry, including that of Velip, prison staff and prisoners, among others.Naik was assisted by tourism director Arvind Khutkak, in the inquiry.
Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged assault on Velip following discrepancies between the inquiry report submitted by the inspector general (IG) prisons Elvis Gomes, and the complaint filed by Velip.
Gomes had submitted an internal inquiry report into the Sada sub-jail incident to chief secretary R K Srivastava, who forwarded it to the chief minister with recommendations. Gomes had recommended an independent inquiry.
Earlier, Parsekar said he was keen to have an independent judicial inquiry into the alleged assault on Velip in Sada sub-jail, if required.
Velip and five others were recently arrested after they tried to stop iron ore transportation in Cavrem, and were remanded to judicial custody. Velip subsequently filed a complaint before the Mormugao police alleging that there was an attempt to murder him while he was lodged at Sada sub-jail.