PANJIM, JULY 12
In yet another rap to the Calangute Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo in the suspected sex racket raid earlier this month, Mapusa Deputy Collector asked the police to carry out a proper investigation as the officer failed to prove the rescued girls were involved in the sex racket.
Moreover, a panel of members inquiring into the complaints by the victim girls who protested they were illegally picked up from their homes, remarked the Calangute police did not follow the procedure laid down in the Immoral Trafficking and Prevention Act 1956.
“…the panel of members who are of the opinion that the action of the Calangute police is unjustifiable as it failed to follow the procedure enlisted under the Act at the time of conducting the raid and victims rescued…” read the order copy released by Dy Collector D M Redkar.
Calangute police carried out the raid suspecting prostitution activities in guise of beauty saloon along the Candolim – Baga belt. It claimed to have rescued 29 girls who were later remanded to protective home in Merces.
The ‘rescued’ girls however complaint to concerned authorities that they were not involved in any illegal activities and that the police team arrested them from their homes without explaining any charges.
Interestingly, the Candolim health department where the ‘rescued’ girls were subjected to medical examination did not speak about sexual exploitation, was another revelation in the Sub Divisional Magistrate report.
The report further lamented that the police failed to prove that the victim girls were involved in sexual activities, as it also failed to make arrests. It bitterly described the raid as illegal, unwarranted and unjustified.
Despite this, the SDM seemingly wants to give the police a chance, as the panel nonetheless suggested the police to be cautious while conducting future raids in case of sexual exploitation activities and to follow the ITPA rules.
