PANAJI: The alleged sexual assault of a young girl in Mapusa on Diwali evening has triggered widespread outrage, with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar demanding swift justice, stronger child protection measures and accountability from the government.
The victim, a two-year-old daughter of a family engaged in balloon selling, was allegedly abducted and taken to a dilapidated building near Lohia Garden in Mapusa on Sunday evening. The family had reportedly brought the child along to the Mapusa market for Diwali.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident came to light after the child was found crying and without clothes outside the abandoned building near the taxi stand. A passerby rushed to her aid, following which local residents alerted the police. The child was initially taken to Mapusa District Hospital and later shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) for further treatment. Her condition was reported to be critical, although police officials subsequently stated that she was stable.
North Goa SP Rahul Gupta visited the spot on Sunday evening and said an investigation had been initiated to identify and apprehend the accused. Mapusa Police are also examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to establish the sequence of events and trace the person responsible.
Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao expressed shock and called upon the government to ensure the best possible medical treatment, counselling and support for the child and her family, while protecting her identity. “The perpetrators must be caught immediately and should face swift justice through a time-bound investigation and a fast-track trial. No delay, no leniency,” Alemao said.
Pointing to Goa's crime statistics, Alemao cited National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2024, claiming that the State recorded 13.3 rape and child sexual abuse cases per lakh population, the highest among all States and more than three times the national average. He further claimed that over 61 per cent of survivors were children.
Questioning the conviction rate in crimes against women, which he put at 9.4 per cent, with over 91 per cent of cases pending, Alemao demanded more fast-track POCSO courts, stronger policing and a time-bound plan to protect children. “Goa, once known for safe streets, now carries this shameful distinction. Citizens feel they are on their own. The government must answer for this failure,” he said, adding that the Opposition would pursue the case until justice was delivered.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar also condemned the incident and questioned the alleged lack of preventive action by authorities despite repeated concerns about activities in and around the abandoned building near Lohia Garden. In a strongly worded statement, Chodankar said the incident raised serious questions about the safety of children in the heart of Mapusa. “What is equally disturbing is that the alleged crime took place in an abandoned building in the heart of Mapusa, an area where concerns about prostitution, drug abuse and illegal activities have reportedly been raised repeatedly by citizens and media houses,” he said.
Questioning the government's response to earlier complaints, Chodankar asked why the building had been allowed to remain an unsafe spot despite reported concerns from residents. Addressing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, he said, “This is a serious failure of your Home Department’s responsibility to protect our children.” Chodankar demanded an immediate, impartial and time-bound investigation, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and an inquiry into any possible negligence by the police or other authorities.
He also called for the child to receive the best possible medical treatment, psychological support, protection and rehabilitation, while ensuring her identity and dignity remained safeguarded. “If a four-year-old child is not safe in the heart of Mapusa, what assurance of safety can your government give to the people of Goa?” he asked.
“This is not merely about one horrific incident. It is about the responsibility of a government that must protect every child, every woman and every citizen. The little angel deserves justice. Her parents deserve answers. Goa deserves accountability,” Chodankar said, asserting that he would not allow the matter to be forgotten.
