PANJIM: In not only recent incidents, but even previously people view the police force in a cautious manner. They wonder whether the people are really fair in maintaining law and order and in investigation of cases. Due to previous and recent transfers of sincere police officer, Herald Media asked people “Have men and women in the Goa police force become political puppets?” Here are the responses:
I feel the Goa Police are acting under pressure from politicians. They don’t take their own decisions. It appears that even police inspectors work under pressure of politicians. Good officers are immediately transferred. They don’t have the freedom to handle cases and whichever sensitive cases they handle, they are transferred. Goa’s law and order has totally collapsed. Today gang rapes and rapes have increased, molestation of minors have increased, murders and gang fights have increased. It’s no doubt police arrest the accused, but because of the politicians, crimes have increased.
Xencor Polji Social Activist
The way they have transferred South Goa SP Sunita Sawant, it is clear they want the police officer to sit when they say so and stand up when they say so. So tomorrow if law and order goes out of hand, government will not take responsibility, police will be held responsible. They have made puppets out of the police. Most of the police are involved in bandobast or they have to do the work that politicians tell them to do. Therefore the other police have now to be clever and vigilant. You have to follow the law, you cannot do anything. Today they have kept South Goa SP at Headquarters and replaced her with Tikam Singh. Tomorrow if anything happens, will he not take law into his own hands?
Tara Kerkar Social Activist
The system of controlling crime has totally collapsed. There is no semblance of law and order. Those who are supposed to maintain law and order, the police officer, have been made into puppets. All the police are functioning under the elected representatives. They don’t have a free hand. Unfortunately, the corrupt and tainted officers have been given full freedom. Good officer, who do good work have been kept without giving important positions. There is need to post good officers and reduce the crime rate. Every form of crime is happening in Goa, dacoity, murders, robbery, rape, molestation, drugs, cybercrime, you name it. Our government does not have the will to stop them.
Mariano Ferrao Social Activist