Ferreira seeks FIR, arrest of cops in Maina Curtorim assault case
Panaji: Following the recent “brutal assault” of five people, including a minor child, at the Maina Curtorim Police Station, which caused physical injuries and for which three police constables have been suspended, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira has called for stricter action through the registration of an FIR and the arrest of these “criminals in uniform” involved in the matter.
“Any assault by any police personnel, whether in uniform or without, is unacceptable. Such kind of bravado cannot be prevalent across the ranks of the police at all levels unless there is a strong political patronage backing these criminals in uniform. We need to weed out such elements, who bring a bad name to the uniform, the police force and the law and order situation in Goa,” he said.
Ferreira said that following some discord at Davorlim Dicarpale, the persons were picked up, taken to the police station, and assaulted brutally.
“The moment a person is a police personnel, he has to have a sense of responsibility. Merely because you are not in uniform does not mean you are no longer a policeman. You are a government servant. You may not be on duty, but you exert power and influence, and when you are in uniform, it is equally the same responsibility that you have, which you carry to make sure your uniform is not tarnished. Such type of people who assault people who come to the police station, they are criminals in uniform,” he said.
Ferreira said that the incident shows there is a breakdown in law and order.
“First we heard of one constable suspended, now we hear of two more being suspended. The CCTV footage will be very clear. And I am told that they were taken to a room where there are no CCTVs. But the CCTV footage will be clear of them being taken to that room so as to be beaten up. This is not only mischievous but clearly tainted. If people come to the police station expecting justice and instead get such type of treatment, do you expect other people to visit the police station to get beaten up?” he said.
He also demanded action from the Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio.
“The Chief Minister cannot remain silent unless they are people who are connected with him or they are his men whom he wants to favour. These people who have been identified and suspended, they should be booked under criminal law and they should be prosecuted and arrested. It is not simply suspending them and conducting an inquiry,” he said.
“These days in the last few months we have seen police excess more frequently and this is coming with impunity. Police at the constable level—I have shown in the assembly how one constable became rich overnight, his house was worth crores of rupees, buying properties worth lakhs of rupees. I will make sure I follow it up with more evidence and this cannot go on unless protection comes from the highest level,” he said.
He demanded an FIR be registered against the police who have been suspended and any other person who is involved in the assault of these people.
“This is not correct, not justice, not policing. The law and order situation in Goa is very bad, if the police take the law into their hands and do what they want contrary to law,” he said.
Loading ...