Panaji, April 28 (Inditop) The 14-year-old German girl who was allegedly raped by Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son last year has accused the police of having treated her “mercilessly” and broken her elbow while dragging her out of her home for questioning.
“At one time, when I did not want to go with the police, they pulled me along so hard that one officer broke my elbow and I had a lot of bruises on my arms,” the teenager, who was taken back to Germany by her mother, told IANS in an e-mail interview.
She added that the police were merciless with her because “I did not want to do what they wanted me to do”.
The girl claimed that the police, who the media has accused of scuttling the case, had virtually placed her under house arrest.
“The police did not allow me to go out of the house. I was locked inside for weeks,” she said.
While she considered Goa her home, she was forced by her mother to travel with her to Germany so that she could ward off pressure and avoid stress.
“I have been living in Goa all my life and really miss everything about it. Goa is like my home and I have a lot of friends there,” she said.
Police officials in Goa have refused to comment on the charges made by the girl, who created a sensation in this state by accusing Rohit Monserrate of rape.
The police initially refused to register a first information report (FIR) but were forced to do so after the German consulate intervened and insisted that a formal complaint be lodged.
The police probe into the case was criticised by the media, which accused the investigators of succumbing to political pressure.
The case had virtually split the state cabinet, with the home minister on one side and a powerful coterie of ministers like Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao and Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao standing along with Atanasio Monserrate on the other.
Rohit Monserrate was subsequently arrested and released soon on bail after the police told the court that they did not need him in custody for interrogation.
rounak