Team Herald
MARGAO: The women’s police station at Margao which houses the Women and Child Protection Unit and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit is in a pathetic condition making it difficult for the staff to function effectively.
Housed in a room, which was earlier used as staff quarters, the station faces space constraints as it can barely accommodate two tables with no sufficient place for visitors to even sit.
The space constraints to have led to situations wherein the children turn cranky when their mothers are busy reporting the cases to the police and very often fights have even erupted between the complainant and the accused when seated close to each other during the recording of statements.
To make matters worse, the PWD has constructed a toilet in the police station, a place which earlier was used as a storeroom. But the toilet lacks electricity connection making it difficult for women to use it.
Ironically, this police station has to handle cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act for entire South Goa and with more and more such cases being detected, the staff workload has only increased but they are struggling to find place for the victims.
Police Inspector Loveleen Dias, who travels everyday from Taleigao to the Margao Women’s Police station, refused to comment on the prevailing condition at the station and requested to contact the senior officials.
However, Auda Viegas of Bailancho Ekvott, a counsellor recognized by the police station was very critical of the insensitivity of the officials to the plight of the women, which she said, is reflected in the manner in which the station is maintained.
“Can you imagine how difficult it is for a traumatized woman who comes to the police station to see her tormentor in the same place as she is lodging her complaint?” she questioned and demanded a bigger space so that the victim and the accused could be kept apart
In fact, Auda Viegas besides writing many letters to the Director General of Police has now taken up this matter with the Human Rights Commission at Panjim where the government merely stated that it does not have space to allot for the women’s police station. Auda has pointed out that there is ample space available in the old Collectorate building where the women’s police station could be housed comfortably.
Superintendent of Police Arwind Gawas who took charge just last week, said he is aware of the situation and would find out some means to address the issue.
