Another blow to police, told to pay beggar Rs 50,000

Another blow to police, told to pay beggar Rs 50,000
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 14
In what could be termed as another blow to Goa Police, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended the Goa Government to pay Rs 50000 as monitory relief to a disabled beggar who was dumped by Panjim Police Control Van (PPCV) in the garbage dump at Campal Parade Ground on June 2, 2009.
The NHRC has also asked the government to take necessary steps to rehabilitate him and proof of payment and rehabilitation report be forwarded to the commission within six.
The PPCV had picked up crippled 47-year-old Shelton Fernando Vaz Messier from the pavement near Panjim Municipal Market at the behest of some business man.
The staff of PPCV had told the businessman that they were taking him to Mother Teresa’s House in the city for rehabilitation. However, he was dumped in the garbage dump at the Parade ground.
Adv Joseph Vaz, a former President of YMCA filed a complaint to Director General of Police on next day, after the victim crawled into YMCA premises located near the garbage dump.
In his following complaint to NHRC Adv Vaz alleged that police continued to neglect the victim after the matter was reported to them.
The YMCA provided him much needed shelter and food for four days before he was transferred to Mother Teresa’s House in Quepem that provides shelter for destitutes.
The victim claimed to be in Goa last thirty years and had also worked on a ship for some years but resorted to begging after he was crippled.
In his complaint Adv Vaz alleged that DYSP Atmaram Deshpande had tried to wriggle out of the issue saying that the matter was minor even as the victim was dumped in the filth on the night of June 2, when it had rained twice during that night.
Inquiry conducted by IG Police later however found two policemen guilty — Head Constable P Mhamal and driver RR Tamse were awarded penalty of censure and sounded warning under the Goa Police Subordinate (Services) Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1975.
 The complaint had prayed before NHRC that an independent inquiry be ordered by a body not connected with the Goa Police, compensation be paid by the government and the monies be ordered to recovered from individual police officers for inhuman acts.
Goa Police submitted that in view of action taken against the erring staff of PCR van, compensation under section 18(a) (i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to the victim may not be recommended.
The NHRC considered the action taken by the State government against the erring police men for inhuman act and its acknowledgment that the policemen violated human rights, and it is vicariously liable for actions committed by public servant.
Therefore it recommended that the government through chief secretary should pay the compensation, rehabilitate the victim.
It has also been asked to file compliance report latest by February 19.