Calangute assault: Cops act only after viral video, public outrage
MAPUSA
In yet another incident raising serious concerns over policing and VIP culture in the State, Calangute Police arrested two individuals only after a video of them brutally assaulting restaurant staff went viral on social media and sparked political outrage.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 8, but no action was taken for over 60 hours despite clear evidence and eyewitness accounts.
The accused – Abhishek Sutar and Deepak Kumar Singh – were finally arrested late Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, only after Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar publicly slammed the police inaction and complained to the State’s top cop.
A disturbing 20-second clip widely circulated online shows the two men – allegedly intoxicated – repeatedly punching and kicking a restaurant staffer, shoving him against the wall and vandalising furniture.
One of them, apparently drunk, is seen stumbling and falling as he exits the premises.
Yet, police chose not to act until the video stirred public outcry.
According to the restaurant staff, the duo refused to pay their bill and turned violent when asked to settle it.
They reportedly boasted about their political links and even claimed influence over police and Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials – suggesting they were above the law. “This is not the first time they have done this. They come here often, eat and drink and leave without paying. This time, when confronted, they turned abusive and violent,” said one staff member.
Congress leader Amit Patkar, who was the first to share the video on social media, criticised the Goa Police for failing to act swiftly.
“Over 60 hours passed without a single arrest despite video proof. What message are we sending? That law in Goa is selective?” he questioned.
The delay in arrest and the brazenness of the accused, who allegedly flaunted their political protection, has raised serious questions about the rule of law in the State’s most visited beach belt.
