Group highlights alleged misuse of minor’s video to stir communal disharmony, calls for official inquiry
MARGAO
'Goa Needs Minority Commission', an alliance of various civil organisations and NGOs, has on Friday demanded the establishment of a Minority Commission in Goa.
At a media briefing by Adv Albertina Almeida, Savio Coutinho, Iftyiaz Sayed, Anwar Naroo and Lincoln Gomes, they said they are of the firm opinion that the incident that recently took place in Margao is the manifestation of a handful of troublemakers and no particular community as a whole is responsible.
“We condemn these elements and not any community. We further appeal to the government to promote peace and communal harmony, which our state has always been known for; and not to promote those who disturb the peace and harmony,” the organisation demanded.
They were referring to a recent incident at Margao where a video of a young boy, a minor, who was made to say “Pakistan Zindabad”, is taking a communal turn.
“On viewing the video clip of the minor boy, it clearly appears that the boy was forced or lured to say the things which were said in the video. Further, this video clip was deliberately and with malafide intentions posted on social media with a disturbing caption. We learnt that the family members, upon learning about it, immediately lodged a police complaint on the same day, i.e. September 21,” they said.
They added: “The police inform that the man who shot/recorded the video was called by the police, but he has not turned up till today, nor has an FIR been registered in this matter. Our preliminary inquiry suggests that no such madrasa, as mentioned in the video, exists in the vicinity where the child stays. Therefore, it clearly looks like a well-planned attempt to malign a certain community and further to create communal disharmony.”
Since no action seems to be forthcoming against the culprit from the side of the law-enforcing agency, the group said they have decided to gather at the Margao police station at 10:00 am on Saturday, 27th September, to demand justice for the innocent child.
“In the past, we have experienced how the law has been biased against the Minority community, and as such, many got targeted over frivolous issues. The instant matter of video recording a minor and posting it on social media with malafide intentions attracts punishment under relevant sections of law, yet no action is taken,” informed Savio Coutinho.
“This is the exact reason why we firmly believe, and reiterate yet again, that a Minority Commission needs to be set up for Goa. Through the Minority Commission, many such vulnerable and defenceless Minority community children will get fair justice,” he added.
