PANJIM: In an exclusive chat with Herald, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Omvir Singh Bishnoi while reacting to the brutal assault on lawyer Gajanan Sawant said, “We will do justice and whoever, even if my men are at fault, we will not spare them.”
IGP Bishnoi said, “The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch and the team is investigating the case. I have given three days’ time to the team to investigate the matter.”
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As the inquiry into the Adv Sawant assault case entered fourth day, the police are yet to take affirmative action. The entire legal fraternity has accused the police of being mute spectators and protectors of their errant officials.
Adv Vinayak Porob, one of the leading figures of protest movement of lawyers all over Goa said, “Under Section 307, an arrest is mandatory but police are protecting the main culprit because he is an officer of the department. If it was a common man, then that person would have been behind the bars. He is being protected as if he is IGP or any high-rank officer. The main culprit has committed the offence like a goon.”
More lawyers’ associations joined the movement against police brutality on Monday as the deadline given by the protesting advocates ended without any suspension or arrest of the accused.
The entire legal fraternity including senior lawyers have expressed surprise over the high-handed manner in which the case is being dealt with. The lawyers expressed shock over the haphazard treatment of the case by police that attracts life imprisonment upon conviction.
Meanwhile, the Mapusa Advocates Forum has resolved to hold a peaceful dharna at the office of Crime Branch, Ribandar on Tuesday at 11 am demanding the suspension and arrest of culprits involved in the assault on Adv Sawant.
The Forum said they had given an ultimatum to the government to suspend and arrest the culprits by 6.30 pm on Monday however it did not happen.
“All the forums from North to South Goa had submitted a petition for suspending and arresting the culprits. The ultimatum was till 6.30 pm on Monday. We have now decided to hold a peaceful dharna at the office of the Crime Branch, Ribandar starting at 11 am on Tuesday. This dharna will continue till the culprits are suspended and placed under arrest,” Paresh Rao, president of Mapusa Advocate Forum said.
“If the police treat a professional in such a manner then one can imagine how the general citizens will be treated. Adv Ganajan Sawant is not a fresher or criminal. He has been in this profession for the past 20 years. Doctors told us that if he had to remain lying in bed then he would have died by now. He is alive because he is moving and walking,” Adv Rao said.
“Under Section 307, an arrest is mandatory but police are protecting the main culprit because he is an officer of the department. If it was a common man, then that person would have been behind the bars. He is being protected as if he is IGP or any high-rank officer. The main culprit has committed the offence like a goon. A person of criminal intent is being protected and misguiding the people, calling it a fight between police and advocates which is not. Sawant is a victim who happens to be an advocate. We would have fought similarly if it was any other citizen. This time we came out because the victim is an advocate,” Adv Vinayak added.
Adv Sashank Narvekar said, “The trend to protect such officers especially when he is a history-sheeter, has cases booked against him and has been suspended in the past. I appeal to the advocates all over Goa to gather at the office of Crime Branch, Ribandar.”
“We want to tell the Police Department, the Home Ministry, and the government that such acts will not be tolerated henceforth,” Adv Narvekar warned.
“In this particular case, the police registered a false offence against the victim under Section 353 for blocking public servants while performing his duty just to compromise and compel the victim. This should stop,” Adv Vinayak said.
The Forum asked, “Why did the police go to the spot when it was a civil matter and there was no court order?”
