Daniel F de Souza
I did not know PSI Abhishek Gomes personally, neither have I met him in the course of his duty. All that I know on going through press reports is that he was a promising young police officer who joined the Goa police force recently and was posted in the traffic cell as a PSI (traffic) and was mowed down under the wheels by a ruthless truck driver while on duty. I do know that he hails from Panzorconni, Cuncolim, a village known for its born fighters and warriors, a proud village that has given Goa men of great valor. PSI Abhishek Gomes was one of them. He has died a martyr in the line of his duty. He died to prove what he lived for, not only sincerity and dedication towards duty, but for the honour and dignity of the uniform he wore. There are not many gems like Abhishek in our police force today who can rise up to the occasion and be counted. It is men like PSI Abhishek Gomes who make a difference and bring about respectability and honour to the entire force.
The truth that he was popular in his home village among his family, youth and friends, is seen from the number of obituaries that were published in the papers. His colleagues and officers also vouch he was an honest, sincere and dedicated officer who had high respect for his uniform. He lived for that honour and died to protect the honour and respectability of the uniform he wore whilst on duty. In fact, PSI Gomes went beyond the call of duty in upholding the law of the land. In a land where the law has become victim of inefficient and irresponsible enforcers, PSI Gomes by his deed and action has proved beyond doubt all is not over, and that there is still a glimmer of hope and resurrection.
There may still be a few in the force who may think it was foolish on their colleague’s part to take such a big risk. But, the fact of the matter is that this is what sets cowards and brave hearts apart. May his death bring a new hope to the entire force and remind the men in uniform that they have to go that little extra mile, even if it means sacrificing their life to save another.
PSI Gomes’ sad and brutal death on our roads should shake the law makers and authorities out of their slumber and complacency to open their eyes wide and see the state of the roads and highways. Despite all the tall claims, our roads continue to be splattered with the blood of innocent road users on a daily basis. Among these, the state highway passing through the industrial sector of Ponda talukas has shown increasing number of fatal road accidents in the recent past. It is time to wake up and see the ground reality. It brings to light the stark reality how much respect truckers and drivers of heavy vehicles have for other road users. It is time to introspect and put into gear the implementation of the law with strict compliance. In a situation where our men in uniform sometimes turn their eyes the other way to traffic offences and become selectively blind, the exemplary courage and dedication shown by PSI Gomes should prick their conscience to stand up and act authoritatively. This is the least they can do in the memory of their departed colleague.
Let not the death of PSI Gomes be in vain. It is time we get serious about tackling the nuisance of speeding and lawlessness on the roads before many more young men like PSI Gomes are sacrificed at the altar of administrative inefficiency. There are enough laws with enough teeth. All that the state needs today is its proper implementation and observance in letter and spirit. And for this we need officers of the caliber of PSI Abhishek Gomes. May his tribe increase and multiply.
(The writer is a Vasco-based Konkani author
and freelance journalist)
