18 Jun 2021  |   05:45am IST

Politicians must stop supporting goons

Politicians must stop supporting goons

Jose Maria Miranda

The law and order situation in Goa is going the way of many other States. Murders and assaults are becoming common and reasons are not always personal enmity. Whistle blowers and others exposing illegalities, particularly by politicians or their friends, have been targets of assaults and other damage, aimed at silencing them. Politicians in and out of power have used and still use these methods and threats to shut critics up, through goons and bouncers.    

The recent kidnapping of a month old child was something unique in Goa. Let us hope that the case does not take a different turn, exploiting the poverty of the real mother, as the kidnapper hails from of an influential Minister’s constituency.

Law and order would have not reached this level had it not been for Police inaction, either on their own or due to pressures from politicians. Court records will speak of shoddy investigations and even complicity aimed at derailing justice. This adds to Police’s own work, as culprits get encouraged to repeat the crimes, in absence of strict action and justice. Sad that Police do not instill trust and have lowered their prestige and esteem before the people. Applauses for prompt detection do not help, if cases cannot speedily reach their logical conclusion. Deterrence is needed.  

Undeniable is the fact that Police are prompt in filing FIRs in frivolous cases, like the song of Alison de Curtorim, whereas similar action is not seen and processes are slowed down in much graver cases involving politicians. Allegations are galore of false FIRs being filed with influence of Police or politicians.   

In the recent Navelim incident, the man who was brutally assaulted with sickles and rods had only questioned a group of rowdies, about parking their car obstructing the free flow of traffic. The assailants, residents of Fakirbandh, were reportedly drunk and one of them, a history-sheeter involved in such incidents in the past. There has been a clamour for the Police to build a strong case to deny the bail to the two detainees. 

Meanwhile, posts and photographs are in circulation showing the closeness of one of the assailants to an influential politician. An encroachment for a slum was also in the news recently, allegedly with the support of same politician. Some areas in and on the outskirts of Margao are notorious and need cleansing from goons, mostly outsiders, slums and illegal constructions mushrooming even in private property. These are again supported by one or more politicians, who depend on them for votes. Some Goan youth and others have now served a much needed warning of retaliation both to gangsters and politicians. 

I am fully convinced that audacity to encroach, illegally construct and use of muscle power stems from not only support but patronage from our elected representatives to promote and protect their vote-bank. It is utterly shameful that people who are supposed to uphold the rule of law, themselves encourage others to violate it to serve their interests. Notwithstanding denials, people know that all over Goa, politicians have created vote banks of outsiders, many of whom have given Goa a bad name. Authorities and Police must act before it is too late and things get out of control.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar