Team Herald
PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, has stepped in quickly to defuse growing anger and shock, over his Personal Security Officer filing a complaint against a 70-year-old lady and her daughter for shouting at him in anger at the Hospicio hospital, for being denied entry by the security guard. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday announced that his personal security officer (PSO) would withdraw the complaints.
Herald had front paged the story of multiple cases field against the ladies by the Margao town police, which were serious in nature since a conviction in these cases lead to imprisonment. The ladies were charged with assault and intentional insult to provoke breach of peace.
Rane, who had on Sunday stated that the matter was not much of an issue, reiterated the same on Tuesday and claimed that he was unaware of a complaint being filed by his PSO on Monday, which resulted in multiple charges being levelled against the ladies. That is difficult to fathom since it was his own PSO who filed the complaint
He said, “No, I was not aware. He told me he was called by the DySP, so I also did not bother,” he stated. He further said, “I thought over it yesterday night and felt it was not worth filing any complaint. He (PSO) will withdraw his complaint and I’m urging the police that they should not do anything.”
But the minister’s comments about them, almost in the same breath, were disconcerting. Stating that the behavior of the duo was not normal and indicating that medical help should be extended to the duo, Rane said, “Looking at their behavior I think they need help. What type of help, you can assess. I hope an appropriate body gives them help. That is not normal behavior. It is best to be ignored. But I urge police not to act in the matter.”
The Margao police, till the time of going to the press has not received any communication either from the minister or their superiors to withdraw his PSO’s complaint.
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HERALD ASKS MINISTER
Vishwajit RANE
1 Did his PSO really file a complaint at the Margao police station after the DySP called him without informing Minister Vishwajit Rane?
2What did the minister mean by saying that women were not ‘normal’ and needed treatment? They were actually angry at the rough and rude ‘treatment’ given to them and therefore shouted at the minister in frustration. Why is that abnormal and what treatment is needed?
Herald asks the police
1Did the Deputy Superintendant of Police call the Health Minister’s PSO?
2If so, did he ask the PSO to file a complaint against the ladies?
3Why didn’t they call the minister since it was he who was the central figure in the incidents at Hospicio?
