Goa, Oct. 31 -- Eight days after the murderous assault on Edberg Pereira of Navelim by a police officer, the victim lies motion less in the Intensive Care Unit of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim. Only son to his parents, Rocky and Viola, Edberg's relatives wait outside, with prayers on their lips. "All we want is for him to recover," said Edberg's aunt, Lucia Fernandes, her eyes welling up with tears.

In the week since he was attacked and later taken to the South Goa District Hospital, Margao, and subsequently to GMC, bits and pieces of information have been coming out amid what appears to be an attempt by the police brass to cover up the shameful incident. O Heraldo caught up with Lucia, one of the eyewitnesses, who...