VASCO, OCT 18
Mormugao Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and DySP Mahesh Gaonkar has been transferred from Vasco for election duty on Monday.
Quepem SDPO and DySP Rohidas Patre has been given charge of Vasco. Gaonkar has been asked take to charge of Quepem and the transfer is due to the ensuing municipal council elections.
It is learnt that Secretary of All Goa Catholic OBC Association Andre D’Cunha has lodged a complaint with Goa State Election Commission (GSEC) and DGP stating that DySP Gaonkar’s relatives, former Mormugao Municipal Council chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar and his younger brother Pratap were likely to contest the council election.
Kritesh filed his nomination from Ward 20, where he is the sitting councilor, and his brother Pratap filed his nomination from Ward 11.
In a letter dated September 28, 2010, to the Special Secretary (Personal), GSEC Commissioner Dr M Modassir, after receiving a complaint from D’Cunha, stated that if the Kritesh and Pratap Gaonkar contest the election, then DySP Goankar should be transferred till the election process gets over.
Few aspirant city candidates have also alleged that there were possibilities that the government machinery could be misused during the council election if Gaonkar was not transferred, as his two relatives are in the fray for the election.
The election code of conduct for the contesting candidates is clear that officers, against whom complaints have been received from any contesting candidates reflecting partisan attitude or behaviour, will have to be dissociated with the election work by the commission.
Speaking to Herald, DySP Gaonkar said transferee has nothing to do with D’Cunha’s complaint. “Such transfer is a routine process during election,” added DySP Gaonkar.
