PORVORIM: The government found itself at the receiving end when its own MLA alleged on the floor of the House that the “inefficient” Goa Police are hand in glove with drug suppliers in the State.
Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate asked the government that besides cracking down on the narcotics trade, it should also identify and punish errant policemen trying to shield the crime. He was supported by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who demanded suspension of such policemen.
“Your police are hand in glove. Either take the side of the police or say they are inefficient,” he said, as he prodded Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the drug haul at Campal Parade Ground. The local police had accompanied a team of the CCP in a raid at the ground and found 43 packets of ganja hidden in huge pipes at the open space occupied by the migrants.
Monserrate alleged that since the police were hand in glove with the drugs peddlers, narcotics were available in the heart of the city. The MLA again alleged that such a trade cannot exist without the knowledge of the police.
A visibly upset Monserrate said that two ladies tried to immolate themselves in front of the police during the raid but no case was registered against them for attempting to commit suicide. “The vagabonds who were living at Campal were having PAN cards and they were also planning to buy a flat of Rs 40 lakh. So what has the police been doing,” he questioned.
Sawant, also Home Minister, assured the House that he will ask the police to investigate the case with more seriousness. “I have already given instructions to get those people (migrants) and investigate. I will get all of them arrested,” he said. They, he added, were brought to the police station on the day of the raid and let off after the inquiry.
“If these types of drugs are freely available (referring to drugs found in the huge pipes at Campal ground), all types of drugs will be available. Your police are not serious,” Monserrate retorted.
Lourenco accused the police of not acting against narcotics. He charged that Goa was turning into ‘Udta Punjab’ in terms of narcotics trade. Udta Punjab is a Hindi movie based on drug abuse in Punjab. “You catch one fellow, suspend the policeman and everyone will fall in place,” he said demanding action against errant policemen.
The CM assured not to spare any person found guilty of the offence. “If anyone in the Police Department is at fault, we will not spare them,” he said.
