MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
CANACONA, APRIL 6
A Dutch national residing at Palolem has accused the Canacona police of adopting an indifferent approach in investigating a burglary at his cottage in 2009.
Alleging that Canacona police initially took nearly three months to register FIR, Dr Salee Eden has accused the police of striking a dubious deal with the accused persons, who are Russians.
Dr Eden, who reportedly comes to Palolem every tourism season since the last 20 years, said he along with other friends had entertained a Russian couple on the Russian Christmas day (January 7, 2009). The Russians then left for north Goa the next day, only to return to Palolem a day later when Dr Eden was away in Gokarn-Karnataka. They have been accused of breaking into his house and stealing a video camera, 1500 Euros and 500 dollars.
“After my efforts failed to get my belongings back, I submitted a complaint to Canacona police on January 16, 2009. After a lot of persuasion, the police entered the complaint only on January 31, 2009, but did not conduct any investigations,” he claimed.
Unhappy with the police for its indifferent attitude in the matter, Dr Eden threatened to approach the Dutch Embassy, the governor, chief minister and senior police officials.
The threat finally worked and a FIR was registered on March 3, 2009. “The case was handed over to PSI T D’Costa, who visited my place and conducted the panchanama. But the case was later handed over to another PSI Prassanna Bhagat,” said Dr Eden.
“But the police were not doing anything in the matter. I had collected details about the Russian couple’s presence at Siolim and accordingly asked the police to expedite the investigation.”
“However, Canacona police kept giving excuses including non-availability of time and transportation to go to Siolim. Eventually one day I hired a taxi, provided breakfast and lunch to a police official and another constable and took them to Siolim,” claimed Dr Eden.
“The Russian couple was traced and in the presence of police personnel at Anjuna police station, the couple agreed to pay 1000 dollars initially and remaining later, in a written single statement signed by both the accused and witnesses,” added Dr Eden.
“Despite frequent requests, the Canacona police failed to provide me a copy of the statement signed by both accused admitting their guilt of breaking into my cottage at Palolem,” informed the Dutch national.
“The biggest surprise was when I received two separate written statements of both the accused Russians (when sought under Right to Information Act), who denied their presence at Palolem and house breaking my cottage. I believe that in my absence, the Canacona police struck a deal with them (Russians),” alleged Dr Eden.
Finding the case compromised by the Canacona police, Dr Eden said he met then DGP Bhimsan Bassi and then DySP Allan D’Sa in 2009 requesting them to conduct an enquiry against the errant officers at the Canacona police station.
When asked why he chose to highlight the issue after a prolonged delay, he said: “See, I come to Goa after every six months and now, moreover I learnt that the case is buried by Canacona police.”
When contacted, officials at the Canacona police station informed that a Russian national had been arrested on charges of stealing belongings of a Dutch national at Palolem under Sections 454, 457 and 380 of IPC in May 2009.
“He was released on bail the next day after he was produced in JMFC Court. However, no stolen articles were found in his possession and the case is lying in the back burner since then,” informed a source at the police station.
