PANAJI
A Police Inspector (PI) has been suspended, another sent on ‘line duty’ and the third officer has been issued a show cause notice as the department has finally taken action to address delays in registering FIRs for crimes committed against women.
Valpoi PI Prajyot Phadte is the first to face action after Deputy Inspector General of Police A Koan ordered his suspension for delaying the registration of an FIR into a sexual assault of a minor.
Whereas the in-charge of Women Police Station Sandhya Gupta has been transferred to police headquarters on ‘line duty’ for sidelining the victim’s grievance when the latter approached the police for an FIR against her father, last week. As per allegations, the PI sent the rape victim back on the excuse ‘to let her answer her exams’ instead of prioritising her complaint. This eventually led to a confusion between three police stations which embroiled Agassaim PI Vikram Naik who has been issued a notice on the same case.
The survivor, who was impregnated by her father and underwent four forced abortions, claimed she initially visited the Women PS where the staff gave priority to her exams over her plight. She then called up the police helpline through which the Agassaim police were pitched in but some misguidance over the jurisdiction created initial confusion until it was finally registered at the Old Goa PS.
The issue created a controversy with women activists questioning the overall functioning of the WPS. Director General of Police Jaspal Singh even questioned the concerned officers at a recently held crime review meeting at the PHQ this week, though PI Gupta reportedly abstained from attending the weekly meet.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in response to the development, said that such an erring attitude on the part of an officer will not be tolerated. “Any delay in registering FIRs by Goa Police will not be tolerated, that too, from a PI-level officer. One PI is suspended and two others are also facing necessary action,” he said.
112 Helpline PI Mira D’Silva has been given the additional charge of the Women Police Station following the current PI’s transfer.
