PONDA: Residents of Ponda have sharply criticised the actions of three police officers from the Ponda Police Station for allegedly mishandling Kanhaiya Kumar Mondal, a mentally unsound man, who was subsequently found dead in Loutolim after being dropped off by them. The incident has now led to a murder investigation by Maina-Curtorim Police
According to local reports, Mondal was picked up by Ponda Police following complaints of public nuisance two weeks ago. Questions have arisen over why Mondal, who was reportedly mentally unsound, was not referred to his family or a mental health facility such as the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB).
Local resident Rocky Dias criticised the police’s handling of the situation, questioning why proper procedures were not followed to ensure Mondal’s safety. “Why was he not entrusted to his family, or to the psychiatric hospital?” he asked.
Social worker Viraj Sapre called for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind Mondal’s death. “The role of the police is to protect the common man. Kanhaiya Kumar should get justice,” he said. “This case highlights the need for better police training to prevent similar incidents in the future,” said local man Naresh Naik.
In response, Ponda Police sources acknowledged procedural lapses and confirmed that the three officers involved had been suspended.
They clarified that the officers failed to report the incident to their superiors and did not follow protocol by leaving Mondal in Loutolim without informing senior officials.
Regarding the delayed release of CCTV footage, police sources attributed it to technical issues but assured that efforts were underway to retrieve and analyse the footage for further investigation.
