PANAJI
The impulsive attack by four cops on a practicing advocate has reversed Goa Police’s claim of being a community-oriented force. Though the Porvorim police have a different story to narrate, the episode has backlashed at the entire department that witnessed similar incidents when even officers took the law into their own hands.
Whether the attack on farmer activists in Pissurlem or manhandling of Shel-Melauli villagers, brawl with restaurant staff over inflated food bill; assault on a youth, who happened to be the son of a senior Marathi journalist or a constable driver’s alleged involvement in a fatal accident, these incidents highlight the decline in stature of the Goa Police, if not all.
ASSAULT ON ACTIVIST PARAB
The disgraceful assault on activist Hanumant Parab lies in cold storage with controversial officer Sagar Ekoskar yet to face disciplinary action. In fact, months after his act of alleged high-handedness during the agitation against the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) project at Melauli, Ekoskar who then repeated his act against anti-mining activists in Pissurlem was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
RUCKUS AT SALIGAO RESTAURANT
In another blatant misuse of power, eight policemen created a ruckus at a Saligao-based Bar & Restaurant after relishing hard drinks and non-vegetarian cuisine to celebrate Gatari, ahead of the Shravan month that commenced on July 28. The Rs 8,000 bill shocked them and what followed in turn shocked the State. Barely two months later, the department revoked their suspension much to everyone’s surprise.
REACTIONS
Advocate Aires Rodrigues has lamented the attack on Advocate Gajanan Sawant stating ‘it was a very dark day for the rule of law as the law of the jungle prevailed’. “Law enforcers must never be lawbreakers. It is seriously damaging the rule of law and eroding the trust that people should have in the police force,” he said.
Activist Kashinath Shetye has alleged the involvement of a politician, at whose behest the police acted on a ‘civil case’ which subsequently turned ugly with the assault. “There’s more than what meets the eye. If a person goes to the police station informing that the house has been forcibly locked, the police will refuse to take action calling it a civil matter. But in the present case where Adv Sawant was called by his client, there’s the involvement of a powerful local politician, a minister,” he alleged.
Rodrigues, who has also stood for the police force in times when needed, questioned the conduct of the overall policing as he further said that anyone failing to display integrity and honesty in their dealings with others should never be part of any credible police force at any level. “There must be absolute Zero Tolerance to any indiscipline and discipline must flow down the ranks,” he added.
Abhijit Prabhudesai, also a social activist, alleged government interference in police functioning. “The police are not defenders of honest and law-abiding citizens any longer. A person will be scared of the police but the same khaki-men will be an ally of robbers,” he said adding, “Government should stop interfering with the police functioning. Cops are completely under pressure and forced to act as per the whims and fancies of the government and elected representatives.”
Activist Rama Kankonkar has slammed the “total collapse of law and order” as he recalled a series of incidents where activists too were targeted by the police. “When the lawyers are not safe, then what can we expect for our common man? The law and order have totally collapsed. There is no fear of anyone,” he alleged.
