The police have been involved in numerous human rights violations, beginning with an incident on February 19, 2002, where they targeted the MLA of Taliegao and his family. Subsequent cases include the police brutality exposed in Kundai in January 2023 and another incident in January 2024 involving the brutal assault of Viraj Mashelkar, a fast-food owner, by Head Constable Sameer Phadte. This assault was captured on CCTV footage, showing Phadte restraining and repeatedly punching Viraj. It's alarming to note that Phadte had previously assaulted an Assistant Sub-Inspector from his own police station.
Many cases likely go unreported due to fear of reprisals from the police. This issue must be taken seriously, regardless of the social or political background of the victims.
In our democratic setup, citizens have the right to peacefully protest near government offices, whether in Goa or anywhere else in the country. It is the responsibility of the police, as the law enforcement agency, to gauge the mood of the gathering and take necessary precautions to peacefully diffuse the situation.
Whether it was an MLA in 2002, a small businessman in 2024, or any Goan in the future, violence by the public, if any, does not justify retaliatory violence against private or government property. State-sponsored hooliganism cannot be tolerated and must be stopped before it takes root. Both the Home Minister and Law Minister should take immediate action against such undemocratic and unethical actions by the police to prevent further atrocities against innocent members of the public in the future.
