A shocking event at the Savusavu Police Station has left a family grieving and the local community in distress. Marika Radua, a farmer from Naviavia Settlement in Cakaudrove, tragically lost his life on Tuesday, allegedly after being beaten by a fellow inmate.
Radua was taken into custody for an alleged offense early on Tuesday and remained detained for nearly six hours. His aunt, Unaisi Solaila, shared that her cousin Samuela Male visited him that morning and discovered Radua confined in a cell with two other men, one of whom is believed to be mentally challenged. Male reported hearing Radua’s urgent cries for help around 11 a.m. but, apprehensive of potential consequences, he did not step in to assist.
An hour later, police officers removed Radua’s lifeless body from the cell. Solaila recounted seeing the officers’ treatment of him, expressing her disbelief at the tragedy, pondering the questions that now haunt the family: What was the police response during the alleged assault? Why was a mentally unstable individual placed in the same cell as other detainees? And why were Radua’s cries for help ignored?
Frustration and outrage have synthesized within the community, spurring demands for a reevaluation of the personnel at Savusavu Police Station. Shiu Shankar Singh, the special administrator of Savusavu Town Council, has raised concerns, stating he has previously highlighted issues of police misconduct, but without results. He urged for swift actions to rebuild public trust and enhance safety standards at the police station.
Following the incident, Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew ordered an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The police have confirmed that Radua was reportedly assaulted by another detainee and that efforts were made to rush him to the hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has also weighed in, with commission chairperson Pravesh Sharma emphasizing the critical nature of safety protocols in police custody, noting the state’s responsibility for the well-being of those detained.
This family, already grappling with the devastation of a recent fire that claimed their home, now faces the heartbreak of losing Marika Radua under such dire circumstances.
In light of this tragedy, there is hope that the ongoing investigations will lead to meaningful changes in police practices and enhanced safety measures, ensuring such incidents do not recur, ultimately restoring faith in law enforcement for the community at large.
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