NT Reporter
Panaji
The Chief Judicial Magistrate – A Court, Merces, has acquitted all 12 accused in a 2018 case involving alleged unlawful assembly and obstruction of officials at Amora, Kadamba Plateau, Old Goa.
The prosecution had charged that on June 4, 2018, the accused formed an unlawful assembly, abused officers of the Electricity Department, the sarpanch and panch members of the panchayats of Azossim, Mandur, Batim, and St Lawrence, wrongfully restrained the sarpanch and panch members, and threatened to block work on a substation and the National Highway.
The court noted that although there were many people present at the scene, including electricity department officials, workers, and the public, the investigating officer had failed to record statements from any independent witnesses.
The accused, including Rama Kankonkar of Curca, were acquitted of offences punishable under Sections 143 and 341 read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
The court further said that the testimony of prosecution witnesses Cipriano Afonso (PW2) and Ajit Bakal (PW3) did not inspire confidence regarding the involvement of the accused persons. With several unexplained aspects, the benefit of doubt was extended to the accused.
