MARGAO: The Popular Front of India on Thursday demanded transparency in the Goa Police Bill before approving it in the interest of minorities, civil society and Goans in general.
The Front demanded that the Bill be put up to public participation before it is introduced in the Winter Session of the Assembly.
The Front’s general secretary Sayed Iftiyaz told the media after a demonstration outside the district Collectorate after observing Torture Day that the participation of the people and government will go a long way in forming a lawful Goa Police Bill in the interest of law abiding citizens of Goa.
“The Goa Police Bill to be introduced in the Winter Session has many loopholes. The Bill, if introduced, in the present form will be a disaster. It has several discrepancies as it undermines civil liberties and gives additional powers to the police without ensuring the required accountability”, he said.
Sayed citied other glaring discrepancies, including politically motivated police transfers, protecting being accorded to violators in the name of averting a law and order situation, need for human right education as part of police training and education, sensitization for dealing with communal tensions and SEZ like formation in the name of special security zones.
