CIPRIANO DID NOT DIE OF TORTURE SAY THE DOCTORS OF GMC

PANJIM: Stating that the injuries noted in the postmortem report of Moira resident, Cipriano Fernandes were not grievous enough to "plug" out his life, the doctors at the Goa Medical College have virtually ruled out that the Moira resident died due to torture or beating even as they said that the death could have been due to natural causes.

The GMC doctors told said on Tuesday evening that hypodensity with loss of grey-white interface in both cerebellar hemispheres which was suggestive of infarct (brain stroke), wherein an area of brain loses blood supply, could be the cause of the death of Cipriano.

They further said that infarct could lead to convulsions (seizures) as a result of which a person could receive injuries and that this could have happened in the case of the Moira resident, who died in the GMC while being technically in police custody.

The GMC doctors also informed that the other reason for the death could be withdrawal syndrome. The police had said the victim was in heavily inebriated condition when he was taken into custody.

They further stated that death could occur among chronic and heavy drinkers due to withdrawal syndrome, though it was not very common. They went on to state that withdrawal syndrome was often associated with "rum fits" and this could have happened in the case of Cipriano.

The exact cause of death would be ascertained once the viscera and histopathology reports were received, the doctors said adding that based on the findings of the provisional postmortem report they could rule out possibility of death of Cyprian occurring due to torture.

Meanwhile, Mr Ryan Fernandes, owner of Cobra Security, who had accompanied the lady "friend" of Cipriano who had lodged a complaint of aggressive behaviour by the Moira resident and whose vehicle was used to bring Cipriano from Socorro after his arrest has in his deposition before the authorities said the deceased was not manhandled by the police while being brought to the Panjim police station.

Whereas, Ms Rosy Fernandes, a relation of the deceased Moira resident, has also told the authorities that he was aggressive on the day of his arrest and had created a scene when he came to her house forcing her and her granddaughter to move out of the house and that they returned to the house after Cipriano was taken away by the police.

Interestingly, Mr Cosme Fernandes, a cousin of Cipriano, had lodged a complaint with the Mapusa police on December 30, 2010, stating that the deceased was harassing everybody in the house and that his behaviour was aggressive. He had asked the police to arrest the deceased person so as to protect him and his family.

Based on the complaint the Mapusa police had booked Cipriano under section 155 of the Criminal Procedure Code and produced him before the sub-divisional magistrate, where he was bound over of good behaviour and released on bail of ` 5,000 and one surety of like amount. (NT)