It gives us no pleasure to report this, but we will be
failing in our duty if we don’t keep reminding that these
custodians of law are never in custody, at least for long,
and continue to serve. VIBHA VERMA researches
Only two policemen have faced the axe in the recent years
despite the fact that several names have cropped up in serious,
particularly criminal and conspiracy cases. The infamous
‘Aguada helipad oral sex’ case is still fresh in the minds of the people.
Head Constable Santosh Gawas, who had forced a woman to perform
oral sex on him in the police patrolling jeep; and constable Pritesh
Naik, who had filmed the entire act were dismissed from the service in
December 2012.
The shameful act in February 2009 went viral, forcing the department
to take action against the three of them including IRB constable Sahadev
Sawal for failing to stop the crime from taking place. The trio was drunk.
They were suspended on December 5, 2009. Sawal was however reinstated
with reduction in payment and postponement of future increment.
Cipriano Fernandes’ death
Goa Police revoked suspension of police inspector Sandesh Chodankar, sub inspector Radesh Ramnathkar and constable Sandip Shirvaikar, over three years after they were suspended in connection with the custodial killing of Goan NRI Cipriano Fernandes in the Panjim police lock-up. They were reinstated after the disciplinary proceedings ‘partially proved charges’ of administrative lapses and major procedural lapses into Fernandes’ preventive arrest, against them. The investigation has come to a standstill since last over two months,
as the probing officer – deputy superintendent of police Sammy Tavares is recuperating
from a major accident. Chodankar, presently posted in Crime Branch’s antiburglary/ theft squad, was not involved in the killing directly, but a report by DySP Bossuet D’Silva had indicted him for failing to take action against the erring officials allegedly involved in the killing. The 38-year-old seafarer was placed under ‘preventive arrest’ on January 7, 2011 evening after his girlfriend complained he threatened her with a knife at her house in Caranzalem. He died on January 9, 2011, two days after his arrest due to head injury. The State Police Complaints Authority that took suo-motu cognizance of Herald report, closed
inquiry against eight police officials in June 2013 after the High Court ordered that inquiry isn’t necessary as government submitted that guilty policemen would face inquiry. But the irony is that not only the trio is reinstated, no action has been taken against those identified. The probe reverted to Crime Branch in June 2013, over four months after CBI rejected taking over the investigation registered against unknown policemen.
Babita Gawde custodial killing
There is no justice for yet another victim of alleged custodial killing Rajani alias Kalyani alias Babita Gawde. Until 2012, a judicial inquiry had not begun even after High Court’s order into allegations that attempts were made to falsify information in her post mortem report.
Gawde was arrested on March 3, 2011 for allegedly murdering Babu Motte (50)
resident of Dhangarwada in Bicholim. The FIR stated the murder took place between
February 25 and 26, 2011. Her arrest was interesting as Bicholim Primary Health Centre (PHC)
records confirmed she was admitted in the PHC from February 22 till March 2, 2011. The then Bicholim police inspector Harish adkaikar was charged with providing information contrary to the documents and the medical records that she was discharged on February 24, 2011. While
the murder case against her is closed with her as accused, it is unlikely that she will get justice with the inquiry status still not known.
Fake Currency
The arrest of PSI Vaibhav Naik in fake Indian rupee notes scam revealed skeletons in Goa Police’s cupboard when he allegedly confessed involvement of some senior officials in his police division. But three years down the line, not only Naik – who was suspended for the crime – is reinstated; the officers he had named in the crime still remain unidentified.
Then attached to the Vasco Police Station, Naik had allegedly confessed his role in the distribution of fake notes after the local police had recovered counterfeit notes to the tune of Rs 2.77 lakh hidden in an unused toilet flush tank at an office at Vasco.
The exposé came to light after a casino discovered fake currency notes used for gambling. The investigation had revealed that roots of the racket are traced to Bangladesh. Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar had even accused the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram of not being serious on the menace, even as reports confirmed fake notes are pumped in
from Pakistan into different parts of India.
Camurlim case
Yet another victim fighting for justice! Not only was she inhumanly beaten, but her neighbours had also stuffed chilli powder in her genitals over a petty property issue on June 23.
Repeated complaints of harassment against Sonabai, Jorge Sasve and his wife Bharti hit deaf ears of the police. But no police personnel have been pulled up as yet, except for one suspension in the form of ASI Vithu Naik for treating the fresh incident as non-cognisable. The station incharge Tushar Vernekar, who holds responsibility of the police station, has been kept away from any action for reasons best known to his department.
The case was converted into cognizable offence and the accused arrested, but there is a new twist to the story. It is now learnt that the Mapusa police are attempting to slap another case against the victim. At the same time, they are trying to treat her ‘mentally unsound’ though a judicial magistrate had dismissed the suspended ASI’s request to admit her to IPHB
before June 23.
