Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar on Wednesday questioned the safety of citizens in the State after the recent assault on Vasco police staff by a group of seven youth.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Vasco DySP Gurudas Kadam, Patkar said the incident reflected the collapse of law and order under the BJP government.
“Whenever a person is in distress, the first instinct is to call the police because people have faith that the police will protect them. But under the BJP government led by CM Pramod Sawant, we now see even the police being attacked. The incident of assault on Vasco police is an example of Gundaraj by the BJP,” Patkar said, condemning the attack.
He pointed out that Vasco police station was severely understaffed. “The sanctioned staff strength is 14 PSIs and 4 lady PSIs, but Vasco police station has only two male and two female PSIs. There is a shortage of 12 PSIs and 2 female PSIs. How can police stations function normally without staff? The CM must answer why almost all police stations in Goa are facing such shortages,” Patkar said.
He added that rising cases of attacks on police were a dangerous trend. “We met DySP Gurudas Kadam and assured full support from the Congress party. The DySP has assured us he will act firmly and not go soft on this case,” Patkar stated.
The GPCC president also accused Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar of protecting the accused in the case. “We have photos showing MLA Salkar with the accused persons. He was elected to stop injustice but is seen with those who attacked the police. It is his duty to help police arrest the seventh accused. This is proof that BJP is supporting Gundaism and MLAs are protecting criminals while the CM protects these MLAs,” Patkar alleged.
Patkar further claimed that political interference was weakening the police force. “We are told that a very strict and honest police sub-inspector who was tackling criminals in Vasco was forced to apologise and even transferred. The chief minister must protect such officers, not the MLAs patronising criminals. This raises questions whether the officer was punished for acting against criminals or for going against MLAs’ orders,” Patkar said, demanding that CM Sawant respond to the issue.
