Margao/Colva: Sub-divisional police officer, Salcete, deputy superintendent of police (DySP) Raju Raut Dessai has initiated an inquiry into the case of alleged assault on a 20-year-old spectator Lester D’Souza and his parents, Seby and Tina, by police inside the stadium at Fatorda on Thursday. The inquiry is in accordance with the directions issued by the director general of police (DGP) Muktesh Chander to South Goa police for a probe to be conducted in the matter.

South Goa SP Arvind Gawas told reporters on Tuesday that the inquiry report will be submitted to the DGP soon. Sources said that the statements of Lester’s parents were recorded by police on Tuesday as part of the inquiry proceedings.

Pressure seems to be building against the government as no first information report (FIR) has been registered yet against the police officials named by Lester’s father in his complaint.

A video that went viral online showed the boy being dragged by police, who were not in uniform, before he was assaulted. Initially, police had claimed that Lester had scaled the wall to get into the stadium.

Newly elected president of the Goa Football Association and Benaulim MLA, Churchill Alemao, has demanded for the suspension of both police officers involved in the assault on the D’Souza family in the Fatorda stadium post the match between FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos on Thursday evening.

Addressing the media, Alemao condemned the high-handedness of both police sub inspectors, Raunak Kadam and Duttaprasad Toraskar. They had no right to take law into their hands and brutally beat Lester and assault his parents, he said.

“Fans cannot be beaten, it is the biggest mistake on their part. I have already spoken to director general of police Muktesh Chandar and asked him to initiate immediate action against them.”

Alemao said that, at the most, police should have handed the family over to the organising committee. “FC Goa is paying the police Rs 3.5 crore for security, to maintain law and order, and not to brutally beat up fans,” Alemao said.

If the police do not initiate action then Goans will have to come out, the Benaulim MLA subtly warned.

