Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: A number of prominent citizens of Canacona gathered at Canacona police station demanding immediate dismissal of PSI Raj Shekar Reddy from service for assaulting Sandesh Telekar, Aam Aadmi Party leader and prominent social worker.
According to sources, on Sunday afternoon, Telekar learned that three of his friends’ staff had been rounded up by police and had been detained at Canacona police Station, earlier in the morning. In the absence of Station incharge Police Inspector, Telekar questioned PSI Reddy who has detained the three staff of his friend, and the said PSI began to respond in an abusive language and shouting at him to leave the police station and go away, to which Telekar reportedly responded saying the police station is not anyone’s father’s property. In a physical retaliation, an infuriated PSI reportedly slapped Telekar below one of his eyes, confiscated his mobile and detained him in the Cell.
On learning about the assault and detention, some of Telekar’s closely associated leaders approached the Police Station and began to confront the PSI concerned to which the leaders claimed the PSI began to misbehave and talk rudely to them as well. ‘This PSI began to talk to us rudely and give abusive answers asking us too to go away’, informed former CCP Chairperson Shyamsunder Desai. Later, retired Headmaster Shantaji Naik Gaunkar, former Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot, NGO Goenkar President Jack Fernandes and Councillor Pandurang (Dhiraj) Naik Gaunkar reached the police station and PSI Reddy reportedly admitted of assaulting Telekar as his mistake and apologized for incident and allowed Telekar to leave the police station., informed Shamsunder Dessai. On reaching home Telekar complained of pain below his eyes, some bleeding, swelling and uneasiness and was taken to CHC, where the doctors found hypertension and referred Telekar to SGDH, Margao.
On Monday, several prominent people gathered at Canacona police station, demanding immediate dismissal of the concerned PSI from the job and conducting any enquiry in the assault on AAP leader. Further question, how PSI Reddy, who is on probation period, can beat up someone like Sandesh Telekar, and if that is allowed today no citizens will be safe to visit any police station. ‘People will think twice even to visit a police station to file any complaint, as this PSI can beat up anyone tomorrow and the gathering at the police station demanded that the concerned PSI be removed from the police service.
A warning was also given that if the assaulter is not dismissed within 24 hours, the national highway would be blocked. Finally, Canacona Police Station Inspector Mr. Harish Raut Desai discussed the demands of the protesters with his seniors Dy. SP (Quepem) and Superintendent of Police (South) Tikam Singh Verma, assured transfer of PSI from Canacona within two hours and set up an internal Inquiry on the action of PSI Reddy.
PI however gave an assurance that PSI Reddy will be immediately transferred and investigated by the department only after which the protesters left the police station and returned back.
Former CCP Chairperson Rajendra Desai, Councillor and CMC Ex-Chairperson (CP)Ramakant Naik Gaunkar, CMC’s Vice-Chairperson Gandesh Madgaonkar, NGO Goenkar President Jack Fernandes, Shamba Desai, Vaibhav Phaldesai, Anil Phaldesai, Mangesh Phaldesai, Prakash Desai, Bhiku Desai, Ex-CP Ratnakar Dhuri. Adip Bhagat, congress leader Janardhan Bhandari, Raju Naik Gaunkar, Ramu Naik, Vipin Prabhugaukar, Barkelo Desai, Soiru Komarpant, and others were present, amongst others.
Meanwhile, in accordance with an official statement from SP (South), Canacona PSI Rajshekar Reddy of Canacona PS an inquiry has been initiated under Dy. SP Sagar Ekoskar, FPS to find the facts and circumstances and in the meantime, the PSI has been attached to the Reserve line of South–Goa.
