I am writing in response to the recent news of two sexual assault cases involving minor victims in Goa. In one of these incidents, the perpetrator was reportedly a Crime Branch police inspector. The protector has become the criminal! If those entrusted with upholding the law are themselves committing such heinous crimes, where is our country heading in terms of women and child safety? What is the role of Annapurna Devi, the Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development, in all this? And when our youth raise questions about accountability they are silenced. This is unacceptable in a democracy. We need strong, urgent measures to curb this crime. Convicts, especially high-profile ones, must be severely punished to send a clear message that no one is above the law. Newspapers must also play their part by covering crime statistics and verdicts frequently, so that the public remains informed and pressure remains on the system. Above all, our courts and law enforcement need urgent reform. Without accountability, transparency, and swift justice, women and children in this country will continue to live in fear.
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
