Increase in burglaries
during mega events
A massive police force will obviously be deployed for traffic arrangements during the inaugural function and closing ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Taleigao. Several VIPs, delegates and film personalities from India and across the world will be attending the mega international event. Hence providing security to them will be a major issue.
Obviously more police personnel will be required for security purposes. It is a common occurrence that when there is a mega event and police personnel are deployed at the venue, there is a rise in the number of burglaries and house breaking incidents elsewhere in the State. The anti-social elements and thieves could become more active taking advantage of the fact that much of the police force is deployed at the venue in order to carry out various duties. The common man’s homes in the cities and villages could be the target for these thieves.
It seems prudent not to scale down the security around residential places across the State during such international events.
The police need to carry out night patrolling as is normally done. Citizens should not be victims of thefts and house-breaks whenever an international event is on.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Two sets of forest rules
Two sets of forest rules, one for people and one for forest officials.
With reference to the hue and cry, made by different NGOs opposing the amendment of land conversion, I think the amendment will help those private property owners having land less than 1,000 metres, and unable to build a house in their own private property due to objections raised by the forest department.
The forest department has two set of rules, one for the people and one for forest official.
In spite of bringing to the notice of Forest Department about reconstruction of houses in eco sensitive zone in village Collem on forest land, no action has been taken. Moreover the forest land is given to forest dwellers using the short cut method through forest review committee and they can build a house. But private property owners are being harassed.
The NGO should know about the ground reality how the forest official harass people, instead of just bringing objections to the amendment for land conversion.
Elvis Colaco, Collem
Inject transparency into team selection
The BCCI has done well to reconstitute the five-member senior national men’s cricket selection committee. India’s poor T20 record in recent times, and its shocking ouster from the recently concluded World Cup, must have weighed heavily on the Board’s mind. Public outcry after the manner in which India was crushed by England in the semis meant the knives were out for the selectors.
The approach and communication of the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee left a lot to be desired. Even during the World Cup, the chairman was not seen to be interacting much with the players or the coach though he was physically present in Australia. It is not clear whether the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that selects the selection committee had indeed reviewed the performance of the selectors after the Asia cup debacle.
As of now, a national senior selector should have played 7 Test matches or 30 first class matches or 10 one day internationals and 20 first class matches. Among them, the one who has played more Test matches will automatically become the chairman.
Whether or not the above criteria needs to be modified is a subject of conjecture. However, the selection panel should be well balanced like a team. Former batsmen as well as bowlers should find way into the committee in a fair proportion.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
PM Sunak is monitored
Everyone outside the UK and especially in India will keenly observe Rishi Sunak how he goes about fixing the country’s battered economy as Sunak assumed office with a crown of thorns and not roses.
Sunak has to burn midnight oil in the coming days to convert thorns into roses which is a difficult task ahead of him but not impossible for him being a banker himself.
Sunak I think is not going to be different from the previous Prime ministers of UK. He will make sure that his government doesn’t get too close with India, critics are going to watch whether he will favour the land of his wife.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Third extension
to ED director
While it is alleged by the opposition parties that all Constitutional bodies like the ED, CBI, IT, EC, etc, stand compromised now and that they are only dancing to the tunes of the ruling dispensation, the unwarranted extension in service given to director of ED for an unprecedented third time, also adds credence to this surmise.
While there are many efficient, eligible and most deserving officers waiting in queue to be elevated for this position, what is the necessity for the Union Government to allow the incumbent to continue in his seat after his term is over which means also stalling due promotion to the eligible in waiting?
Doesn’t it appear to be a kind of expression of gratitude to the incumbent for the ‘dedicated’ work he has ‘dutifully’ carried out during his tenure of service?
Tharcius S Fernando,
Chennai
Life sentence in India,
fair and just?
The courts have interpreted differently the definition of life sentence. The period spent in confinement should not include parole and furlough SC had opined that it should be 14 years of incarceration. Different yardstick seems to apply and there is no uniformity. There is agreement in requesting for parole and remission of sentence after certain period.
Death sentence of heinous crimes is often committed into life sentence by which it is assumed that the victim and family get relief of some sort. What is meant by good behaviour when serving sentence in prison?
Any aberration will lead to solitary confinement, denial of facility and enhancement of the sentence.
Prisoners on parole participate in election propaganda and some are left in conjunction with elections to promote parties’ interest. This abuse of freedom during parole cannot be justified and restrictions should be rigorously imposed on public interactions. The society does not even recollect the intensity of gruesome crimes.
The recent releases of Bilkis Bano accused and Rajiv Gandhi assassins raise eyebrows. The living victims are tormented with fear psychosis
How do authorities certify reforming the criminal mind and intent of criminals? The tendencies cannot be gauzed from life in confined atmosphere as prisoners are always on best behaviour.
The statements of Nalini are shocking. Expressing her innocence and casting aspersions of being framed after protracted proceedings.
The government seems to secretly consider political interests in an attempt to reduce prison management, overcrowding and maintenance expense and that is understandable, as it is the society that bears the burden
Good behaviour is subjective term and uniformity of period will be more objective not likely to interpretation of bias.
Nelson Lopes,
Chinchinim
