A couple of days ago, the honourable OSD, Officer on Special Duty, a high ranking official in the Chief Minister’s office called to seek an explanation from the Editor of the Herald about a story involving a Nigerian tenant who had abused and caused immense trauma to his landlord and lady, an elderly couple from North Goa, in one of the villages in those parts, where the state has nearly surrendered space, power and position to these elements.
This Officer on Special duty, obviously a very special officer was handling a very special task, of trying to punch holes in a Herald story which had obviously caused a lot of embarrassment. He was earnest- oh yes he was-having called to sound out this paper and after being politely told to send his query or clarification in writing, he promised to do so.
While the reply to that clarification will be dealt with in these columns later so that the CM’s questions and our replies are in the domain of the public and not confined to special officers, there is a more serious issue here. The substance of the very special clarification was that our charge in our story, that the Nigerian who accused the elderly couple of stealing his things and shouted and intimidated them, was left free by the police; was grossly incorrect.
Secondly and more importantly the officer on special duty conveyed the displeasure of the Chief Minister that his very efficient Mapusa PI Tushar Vernekar, was being unnecessarily “dragged” into the issue when the highly professional officer was on an official tour to Delhi on the day when the incident happened. So blaming as many of his minions was perhaps fine but casting even a whiff of accusation against the obviously blue-eyed PI, was sacrilege and hence the stern admonishment.
There is an aside here too which is ridiculously humourous. The leader of the Parrikar media management and control team, sent out a tweet at the same time stating that Herald had apologised for one of its stories, which of course was a complete figment of the officers imagination, but is completely in sync with the tweaked misinformation campaign that is a part of an age old template. But we shall let that pass.
Back to the officer and his very special duty which he was doing. He mentioned that the poor Nigerian indeed had to face the full wrath of the might of the Goa police because a “chapter case” was filed against him. Here was a man who had threatened an elderly couple, told them that he would burn their adjoining one house as well as the adjoining where he was living as a tenant, and all that was done by way of police action was a weak chapter case which does not confine the man or his movements.
There are so many Nigerians who roam the streets of Parra and Calangute with FIR’s and case papers which they merrily use as their reason for staying here without any other official document.
The elderly couple meanwhile continue to live in fear and dread, which of course seems to be of little concern to Officers on Special Duty
The defence of the PI of Mapusa and the line in the clarification that he was “dragged” is shameful and we are sure that the word “dragged” in was not authorised by the Chief Minister. Tushar Vernekar has been in the centre of three very serious violations on the safety and dignity of women, each gruesome acts which should have seen the perpetrators in jail. Instead, as Herald has reported, the police has been a great friend of accused by registering Non Cognisable cases and delaying investigation. It is very unfortunate that the office of the Chief Minister reaches out to protect such a PI. The CM owes an explanation for his office sending out a so called clarification to Herald defending a police officer who is indefensible.
Moreover if the PI of a police station will not take responsibility for actions within his jurisdiction when he is out of station, will the Chief Minister also take the same stand that he is not responsible for actions of the government when he is campaigning in Maharashtra or holidaying in Austria?
We wait for another letter from the Officer on Special Duty.
