Recent incidents in Goa have drawn attention to an unsettling reality: the growing sense of impunity exhibited by criminals, particularly outsiders, and the apparent lack of action by the police in holding them accountable. Two horrific events in Anjuna and Mandrem highlight this failure, leading many to question the state’s law enforcement system and the political will to ensure justice for the common people.
The first case involves Judith Fernandes, a music teacher who was grievously injured after being knocked down by a Mercedes driven by 21-year-old Anchit Sangelkar. After the incident, which left Judith in a critical condition with multiple fractures, her husband Prajay Simepurshkar’s desperate attempts to get answers from the Anjuna Police were met with inaction. Rather than taking swift action to apprehend the accused, the police seemed more interested in shielding Sangelkar, whose wealthy family had seemingly leveraged their influence to minimise the consequences of his reckless driving. Sangelkar was allowed to be bailed out so sooner. This was not only a failure to uphold the law but an overt display of how privilege can sometimes ensure the protection of the powerful over the vulnerable.
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Then, on Friday, another tragedy unfolded in Mandrem, where 23-year-old tourist Deepan Rajeev Batra from Delhi ran over Maria Joao Fernandes, a local woman, after an argument over his dogs. The disagreement, which escalated to physical violence when Batra’s mother attacked Maria, culminated in Maria being struck by Batra’s car and dragged for several metres, resulting in her death. Shockingly, while Batra promptly surrendered before the police, the subsequent judicial custody he was placed in contrasts the way the police would usually handle a case.
Both incidents have a common thread: the police’s indifference to the suffering of local citizens, compounded by an unseemly rush to protect the interests of outsiders, particularly those with wealth or status.
In Goa, the issue of outsiders involved in criminal activity is not a new one. There have been many instances where individuals, particularly tourists or migrants, have committed serious crimes only to be shielded by their resources or the perceived power they wield. In some cases, the sense of entitlement that many outsiders exhibit, especially those from affluent backgrounds, goes unchecked by law enforcement. This disparity in treatment fuels the belief that certain individuals, particularly those from wealthy families or with connections, are above the law.
The question now must be asked: what is the role of the state in all of this? Will the Goa government take responsibility for the failure of its police force to deliver justice? The Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, has previously made statements warning that migrants come to Goa to commit crimes and evade the law, a sentiment expressed in relation to petty criminals. But will the Chief Minister hold the same standards for the super-rich outsiders who treat Goa as a playground for their reckless behaviour?
There is a growing sense of frustration among Goans who feel increasingly sidelined in their own state. Many have begun to question the priorities of the authorities, particularly when it comes to the protection of locals against those who believe that the law does not apply to them. Goa, once known for its laid-back charm and warm hospitality, is increasingly being seen as a haven for outsiders, many of whom are not here to contribute to the community but to exploit its resources and its lenient legal framework.
What is most alarming is the lack of accountability within the police force. In both the cases mentioned above, the police’s role in shielding the perpetrators cannot be ignored. From the apparent bias in the Anjuna case, where the victim’s family was harassed while the accused received preferential treatment, to the question of whether or not the Mandrem case was treated with due urgency, the police’s handling of these situations is deeply troubling. The people of Goa must ask themselves whether they are truly safe in their own land, or if the growing influence of outsiders is now a greater priority than the well-being of the locals. It is time for the legislators of Goa to step up and safeguard the identity of Goans, ensuring that no individual, regardless of their financial status or background, is above the law.
Goa must resist the temptation to treat its own citizens as second-class and protect the integrity of its communities. The government must ensure that the police force is held to account for its failures, and that justice is served in a fair and transparent manner. The time has come to stand up to the culture of impunity that has taken root in the state and demand a system where the law applies equally to all, no matter where they come from or how deep their pockets are.
In the face of such incidents, it is crucial for the people of Goa to unite, to hold the government accountable, and to insist that those in positions of power do not shield wrongdoers, no matter their background.
