He was summoned to collect letter, but ended up being arrested

HERALD CORRESPONDENT
QUEPEM, SEPT 25

The Right to Information application filed by an anti-mining activist from Colomba-Quepem seeking information from the Quepem police reportedly took an unusual turn when he was arrested on Friday.Speaking to Herald, Motes Antao said he had filed a RTI application on August 14 before the South Goa Superintendent of police, seeking details regarding PI Santosh Dessai, ASI Prakash Dessai and HC Arvind Nagekar of Quepem police.

“On Thursday evening, Police Constable Vinod came to my house to deliver the letter issued by the South Goa SP and DGP, asking me collect the RTI information,” said Antao.Antao could not be contacted and since family members did not accept the letter, PC Vinod left a message at Antao’s residence to collect the letter from the police station on Friday morning.“On Friday at about 8.45 am, I went to the Quepem police station and collected the letter issued by the SP South and DIG.

“As I was leaving the police station, ASI Prakash Dessai arrested me in connection with a complaint dated November 28, 2008, filed by an official of a mining company and I was booked under Sections 143, 341, 506 r/w Section 149 of IPC,” stated Antao.

“The mining company is trying to take revenge since I applied for detailed information under the RTI. ASI Prakash Dessai is also the investigation officer in the complaint dated November 28, 2008,” alleged Antao. Antao was later released by the Sanguem JMFC on a bond of Rs 2,000.

When contacted, Police Inspector Nilesh Rane, who is hold additional charge of the Quepem police station, denied allegations that the Quepem police had lured him into the police station by asking him to collect the RTI application, only to arrest him there.

When asked to comment on the delay in arresting Antao for nearly a year, PI Rane said he did not have the necessary details to comment in the matter.

Herald, September 26, 2009 Panaji