PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that the attack on Delhi-based tourists was a result of provocation, though it did not warrant the assailants to take law into their hands.
On Monday, Police Sub Inspector Francisco Xavier was suspended for dereliction of duty while the fourth accused in the case was arrested.
Advocate Ashwani Chandrani and his nephew Pulkit Sharma were assaulted with swords at a resort in Anjuna after they complained to the management about a waiter’s behaviour.
To avenge the insult and temporary suspension from work, the staff plotted the attack in connivance with his accomplices on the very day.
Sawant said that the Delhi visitors had provoked the situation instead of calling the police for appropriate action. The resort manager too failed to inform the local police, whose intervention could have prevented the serious crime.
“The waiter and the tourists had an argument. It escalated to an extent that the latter pelted stones at the waiter. The manager took action against his staff but didn’t alert the police. The accused thereafter called his people, all of whom charged at the victims with sharp weapons,” the CM said while briefing reporters after chairing a meeting with police higher-ups, Tourism officials and Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes to review the situation.
Condemning the incident, Sawant said provocation however does not allow anybody to take law into their hands. “This is not proper. People (locals) should have patience and instead of violating the law, take the help of the police. Likewise, the tourists were also wrong. Any visitor should follow the rules when they come to Goa,” he added.
The victims’ viral video shaming Goa as unsafe was followed by another video about swift police action upon a report confirming the severity of the offense.
“We conducted a detailed inquiry and made them (tourists) release another video that we have acted against the erring investigation officer and arrested the accused,” Sawant, also the Home Minister, said.
Sharma’s subsequent video hailed the CM and North SP’s quick action as SP Valsan also spoke to him through a WhatsApp video call assuring action against the accused.
The CM has further asked the stakeholders to ensure Goa’s image is not sullied by petty incidents while reiterating that police are ‘capable to handle’ situations.
Meanwhile, Police Sub Inspector Francisco Xavier was placed under suspension for dereliction of duty, a day after Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan transferred him to the lines and initiated a preliminary inquiry.
Sawant had directed the department to suspend the officer pending departmental inquiry for registering a case under the bailable section and refusing immediate action against the culprits.
