10 days after two siblings were allegedly beaten up by Navy personnel, over 200 people protest near naval base
Marve is rallying behind the two siblings who were allegedly thrashed by Navy personnel near the naval base there on April 9. On Monday, more than 200 members of the Marve Gaothan Sangharsh Samiti protested outside the Marve beach, demanding action against the assaulters.
Members of the Marve Gaothan Sangharsh Samiti join the Correia family in demanding action against the alleged Navy assaulters
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The brothers — Brendon Correia (19) and brother Govin (16), residents of Malwani in Malad West — were beaten senseless allegedly by two Navy personnel as they got off a ferry at Marve. They were struggling to free their bike from the mud when a man told them to hurry up, and then began raining abuses and blows on them. The man allegedly identified himself as a Navy personnel and was soon joined by a colleague in the assault. The boys suffered grave injuries to the face, arms, legs and back. On April 15, mid-day had highlighted their plight.
On Monday, the protesters were joined by the Correia family and friends.
Heaven Mendes, president of the samiti, said the police are yet to identify the Navy personnel, 10 days since the assault. “They just filed an FIR and forgot the case. We respect the Navy, but we want the assaulters to be arrested.”
He claimed that April 9’s attack was not the first. “Navy personnel have created a ruckus here before. They had once threatened a ferry driver with a gun and told him not to stop at Marve. We have cooperated with the Navy every time, but now we want it to talk to us.”
Gopal Shetty, the BJP MP who had helped the Correias register an FIR on April 13 after the police allegedly tried to talk them out of it, threw his weight behind the protesters at the venue. “We will make sure action is taken in this case as soon as possible,” he said.
Abhijeet Arshul, president of Shiv Sena’ north wing, warned that if action is not taken soon, they would retaliate violently against Navy personnel when they set foot outside INS Hamla, which is anchored off Marve.
Milind Khetle, senior inspector of Malwani police station, assured the protesters that an attempt to initiate a dialogue between residents and the Navy will be made.
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