Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government and the Goa police have come under fire from all walks of society for shielding five policemen of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for their alleged involvement in extortion with political leadership from the opposition, retired police officers and social activists demanding dismissal of those involved in the extortion scandal.
Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “That is a serious matter as police officers are part of this type of racket. They have only been transferred to the GRP, not suspended or dismissed.”
Stating that mere transferring the alleged cops is completely wrong, Adv Ferreira demanded that they should be dismissed from service. Reacting to the argument that no complaint has been registered, he said that he has a case to show where a constable broke into some shop and stole some goods; still the government of Goa dismissed him.
Adv Ferreira pointed out that the matter came to light only after the video of the alleged incident went viral, yet the government has shown great tolerance towards its own crooks in uniform.
“A thief is a thief. If tomorrow a thief is caught and he returns the money and asks forgiveness, the theft is complete, whether he returns the money or does not return the money,” he said.
“There are two things: one is criminal action and the other is disciplinary action. For criminal action you can say there is no complaint, but when it comes to disciplinary action this is unbecoming of a person in uniform,” Adv Ferreira said, reiterating his demand for the dismissal of involved cops even without an inquiry.
Goa Forward Party Party (GFP) President and MLA Vijai Sardesai demanded to disclose the identity of involved policemen involved in extortion and to initiate action against them. There are indications that the government is trying to hush up this serious matter since money is refunded and that there is no complaint.
“The government should disclose the names of cops who have disgraced Goa Police department and ruined Goa’s name. People feel that extortion is BJP's enterprise and police officers are sent on deputation to do collection,” Sardesai said.
The GFP leader added that that he will raise the issue in the ensuing assembly session and compel the government to reveal the names of those involved in extortion.
Retired Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahesh Gaonkar said, “It is the duty of the senior police officials to clear the doubts and allegations that have been levelled against policemen.”
“It is not necessary to have a complaint to investigate into the matter. People feel worried to file complaints against the police. Hence, there is a need to reinstate sense of trust by means of actions,” Gaonkar said.
Lokacho Aadhar president Trajano D’Mello, said, “We demand from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and DGP Jaspal Singh that they come out with an explanation of this act by law protectors turned lawbreakers and ensure that exemplary action is taken against the officers involved in the extortion case.” “The incident occurred under the Chief Minister’s watch, and the failure of the police to register an FIR against the accused officers raises questions about the government's commitment to accountability and transparency,” D’Mello said. The incident has raised serious questions about the integrity of the police force in Goa and its commitment to upholding the law, he said.
Social activist Adv Aires Rodrigues said that the alleged extortion by five cops is a sad state of affairs. The police personnel, who should be enforcing law, are engaged in breaking the law. This is unacceptable situation. DGP should ensure that there is no political interference in the working of Goa Police department.
“People’s faith is eroded by such acts when police are in the news for wrong reasons. The Mission Statement of Goa Police is to give people an efficient, law abiding and responsive law enforcement machinery. There must be absolute zero tolerance to any indiscipline and this discipline must flow down the ranks,” he said.