People in general are not unfamiliar to police brutalities particularly in States like Uttar Pradesh. However, it was shocking to note that in a peaceful place like Goa, in a case of mistaken identity, a 19-year-old youngster was picked up allegedly in a theft case and beaten up mercilessly by the Calangute police.
To say the least, the action of the police may be termed most foul, for, if the men-in-uniform prefer to take law in their hands and exercise their authority over helpless citizens to humiliate them, it can be called subhuman behaviour worthy of denunciation. Strict action needs to be taken against the accused which may serve as a deterrent for others to be more vigilant in the discharge of their duties. The fundamental rule is that no one has authority to display arrogance and take law in his or her hands creating distrust in society.
In this backdrop, it is equally disturbing to underscore an incident in Vasco wherein a police constable who was summoned for questioning, threatened to kill the complainant in front of his superior. That is an indication of the height of arrogance displayed by people in authority. Worse still, it is said that this constable was recently reinstated from suspension for misbehaviour. One can imagine the fate of the common man when law is in the hands of such people.
Michael Vaz, Merces
