PONDA: Three policemen from the Ponda police station were pulled up after they unfurled the national flag upside down at the main administrative building of Ponda on Wednesday.
The incident, which drew angry reactions from the public, was rectified only after this reporter alerted authorities about the glaring lapse.
This reporter noticed that the national flag had been unfurled upside down at the main administrative building and alerted the Police Control Room at about 10.45 am.
Though the Ponda police station is located in the heart of city and not far from the main administrative building, a police team did not respond immediately to the issue.
The Goan also contacted Deputy Collector Jhonson Fernandes, who was in a meeting out of town, and he got in touch with some persons.
The police took about 25 minutes to reach the spot and the national flag was then brought down by three police personnel at about 11.10 am, following a guard of honour. After rectifying the lapse, Police Assistant Sub Inspector J F Fernandes unfurled the flag in its correct position.
When contacted, DySP Sunita Sawant told The Goan that three police personnel have been issued memo on Wednesday for unfurling the national flag upside down at the main Ponda administrative building.
“Police constables Nitin Raikar, Rama Kanekar and Dinesh Mhalkar have been asked to give their clarification regarding the incident. I will submit a report to my superiors once they give their statements,” she said.
Justifying the delay in reaching the site to rectify the lapse, Sawant said: “There is a process of bringing down the flag with a guard of honour and it was that arrangement that took some time.”
Speaking to The Goan, Additional Collector Damodar Morajkar said he was attending to a phone call when he entered the building and hence, could not verify if the flag was flown in its correct position.
“Wherever I am posted, I make it a point to check the flag every day to ensure that the national flag is given due respect. Henceforth, we will definitely monitor it closely,” said Morajkar, who also has his office in the same building.
Ponda councillor Shivanand Sawant, who was present at the site, said the incident was due to sheer negligence. Such incidents should not happen in future,” he said.
Ram Cuncolienkar and Milind Mhadgut, both retired teachers, said government should take the issue seriously, as it amounted to insult and disrespect to have flown the flag upside down.
