Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is quoted to have said, “No matter who you are or what you intend to do, you should not exceed the boundaries of the rule of law.”
The demolition of Pradeep Agarwadekar’s house in Assagao has exposed the state of lawlessness which continues to haunt Goa’s administration and policing. In broad daylight a bulldozer was allowed to destroy a house constructed with hard earned money of a family. It will not be far fetched to say that muscle power prevails over law. Despite the information reaching the police that a group of bouncers led by a real estate agent who had been tasked to vacate a property by a non-Goan, police failed in protecting the house. It seems like a crime scene from a movie wherein the police are always the last to reach at the site of the incident.
By now, anybody who has been reading newspapers and watching the local news is aware of the chronology of events that unfolded at the property that belongs to Chrys Pinto from Mapusa. The Agarwadekar family claims to be have been living in the constructed house which apparently has been sold through a sale deed to Pooja Sharma from Mumbai. In order to get rid of the occupants on the property, Pooja Sharma allegedly hired goons who went ahead and bulldozed a major portion of the house before they were stopped by the family.
The incident raised a major question: Has the State turned into a lawless entity? Where is the rule of law of the land? The police failed to protect the Agarwadekar family. If not for the extensive media coverage, the matter would have been pushed under the carpet and yet another Goan family would have been rendered homeless in the garb of a property dispute.
O Heraldo is firm that law of the land is superior to any other claims and therefore the law should prevail over every aspect of life. Even if Pooja Sharma has the legal claim over the property, she ought to have followed legal process and got her property vacated from the occupants. It is a matter of investigation as to how, when and to whom did Chrys Pinto settle the sale of the property. As claimed by the Agarwadekar family, they have been paying Pinto for the property and living on the area for the last more than two decades. In such a circumstance, when the water and electricity connections belong to the Agarwadekar, family it is a civil dispute which Pooja Sharma ought to have fought in the court of law. The incident is a clear indication that the might of money and muscle power exercised is akin to the law of the jungle where might is right.
The crime scene was at full display infront of the police when the accused, the real estate agent and his group of goons attacked the Agarwadekar family to the extent that the goons abducted Pradeep Agarwadekar and his son for more than five hours before dumping them near a bar in Anjuna.
Despite having encountered the goons physically, the police literally did nothing to file FIRs and detain the perpetrators. The claims by the Opposition that a senior IPS officer is involved in the matter and thus the police were on the back foot and let the goons have their day is yet another low point for the Goa Police.
Earlier, Goa has witnessed that the North Goa coastal belt has been swamped by touts, drugs, illegal businesses, betting and noise pollution due to the high decibel music from the clubs and pubs all through the day and night. Despite High Court directions the police and the administration of the State has failed to curb the noise pollution violations. While locals are burdened and facing the brunt, the police have literally turned deaf as the high decibel music doesn’t seem to reach their ears while the locals keep complaining about it.
The action of the police has signalled the collapse of the law and order situation in the area. As informed by the Chief Minister, the case has been handed over to the Crime Branch and the Chief Secretary will investigate the lapses in handling the case.
Goans hope the State government will ensure that this investigation is not an eye wash until yet another issue makes it to the headlines. On the other hand going by the history in such incidents, the only hope is from the High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the crime and ensure that the Agarwadekar family is served justice and a lesson in upholding the law is taught to the police and the administration of the State. When the police can take credit from time to time about arrests made in thefts and other crimes, the police should also be made accountable for its failures.
