Makeshift escort buses sans mesh to shift undertrials

Makeshift escort buses sans mesh to shift undertrials
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, FEB 24
With makeshift escort buses devoid of the protective wire mesh, it would appear that undertrials are on a joyride, when they are transferred in and out of the Sada Sub-Jail at Vasco.
Believe it or not, the Goa Police Escort Cell has three buses at its disposal, of which only one bus has a wire mesh on the window panes of the vehicle, to prevent undertrials from jumping off the bus.
Two other buses, were earlier used by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), are now being deployed by the Police Escort Cell to transport undertrials and convicts.
These buses do not have any protective wire mesh and the large window panes make it extremely easy for undertrials to escape from the bus.
A live demonstration of this easy escape was provided by Michael Fernandes jumped off the Police Escort Cell Swaraj Mazda bus (GA-01-G-2037) loaded with policemen and fled in a waiting motorcycle at the busy Chicalim Junction on Tuesday evening.
Superintendent of Police for Training D K Sawant, who heads the Goa Escort Cell, has admitted that the police force faces a lot of difficulties while taking undertrials to court, as police has been directed not to handcuff the undertrials.
Speaking to media, Sawant said a request for new special escort van was made few months ago, which is yet to be sanctioned by the department.
“With Tuesday’s incident, things might be expedited,” said Sawant.
“I will recommend to the department to reshuffle police personnel working at the same police station for the last over three years, as regular transfer of staff is required,” added Sawant.
He opined that the courts should permit police to handcuff undertrials and convicts, as such people are required to be taken handcuffed.
Despite Michael’s escape on Tuesday, the two escort buses are yet to be fitted with the protective wire mesh.
On Thursday, a group of undertrials were taken in the same unprotected IRB buses from the Sada Sub jail, while a few undertrials were taken in the special escort van.
Since the last couple of months, work of the Escort Cell has increased in Vasco, due to shifting of undertrials to and from the Sada Sub jail.
Authorities are now planning to keep only two jails in the state, one in north and south district. While a new jail under constriction at Colvale-Mapusa will be for North District, the Sada Sub Jail will cater to South Goa.