TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has conceded that the episode of Nigerian mob going on a rampage has exposed the chinks in the leadership of Goa police machinery, which is already hit by lack of officers of IPS-rank.
“The recent episode of Nigerians indulging in riotous and violent behaviour consequent upon the murder of one of the Nigerian nationals has exposed the chinks in the leadership of the police machinery,” Parrikar said in a written communiqué to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Explaining further, he said, “The DGP (Kishan Kumar) was away to Delhi and in the absence of the officers of the rank of IGP and DIGs to provide leadership the entire situation had to be handle(d) by relatively junior officers.”
According to the police, a total of 52 Nigerians and one Ghanian national are serving judicial remand for blocking NH 17, assaulting police personnel and damaging public property on October 31. They are also charged with attempted murder and rioting cases.
The Nigerians, in separate groups were protesting the brutal murder of Obado Uzoma Simeon at Parra. They had attacked the police hearse van carrying the body to the Goa medical college and laid it in the middle of the road at O’Coqueiro junction.
At a press briefing post-incident, Parrikar had admitted that a ‘minor technical error’ resulted in the foreigners overpowering the police.
The functioning of the police had come under severe media criticism also as locals thrashed a few Nigerians who were on a rampage.
Parrikar has asked the Centre to depute competent AGMUT cadre officers to Goa. “…State (is) being deprived of its legitimate and rightful share of suitable and competent officers of AGMUT cadre to man the State police and take necessary action to correct the situation forthwith,” Parrikar’s letter dated November 8 to the Home Ministry, further reads.
