MARGAO: Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas had to intervene to give relief to a British tourist who appeared at the District Police Headquarters in great distress but could not find any help from the insensitive police personnel of lower rank till some journalists brought the matter to the SP’s notice.
The British National is apparently a frequent visitor to Goa and was living at Patnem in Canacona and had left to go to the Foreigners Registration Office at Panjim. She reportedly lost her documents and cash some time back.
The rickshaw driver hearing that she wanted to go to a police station dropped her at the district headquarters. She contacted the sentry at the main gate to the building who looking at the address she had said she had to travel to Panjim which is 30 kms away.
“She said Oh My God when I told her the FRO is in Panjim which is 30 kms away,” said the sentry without even considering the fact that the lady was in distress and unable to even speak coherently as she had a swelling on her leg just above the knee.
Journalists who had gathered at the headquarters for the police beat saw the lady in distress and informed the Ladies Police Station about it. However, the lady police station personnel asked them to tell the lady to come to the police station even though they were told that she cannot walk.
The journalists then contacted the Superintendent of Police who immediately directed the ladies police station personnel to look after the lady and they took her to Margao police station where she was questioned by the lady police staff and later the police dropped her to Patnem where she is residing.
