AERIAL VIEW
Will the Goa Director General of Police Jaspal Singh and the Home Minister Dr Pramod Sawant act against such officers and constables?
Will teh DGP and the CM order an inquiry into such incidents, if they do half the police force will be sitting home with suspension orders because every policemen on night duty feast on free food ordered from restaurants.
This incidents are common everywhere in Goa but more rampant in the coastal areas as those who do not oblige have to face the music with cases.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
In a shocking incident, a fast food owner identified as Viraj Mashelkar was mercilessly thrashed in his own shop allegedly by a police head constable over a petty issue.
The whole incident is captured on CCTV. 6 people including the cop hold the victim and punches him repeatedly multiple time.
Sources claim that the the cop has previously also landed in trouble when he assaulted one of the Assistant Sub Inspector from his own police station.
The victim Viraj is admitted to hospital for injuries to his face and head.
Meanwhile, the suspected accused police head constable Sameer Phadte has been suspended and an offence is registered against him for allegedly assaulting a restaurant owner Viraj Mashelkar.
The sheer misuse of powers
This is not a one-off incident, cops in Goa are often involved in such cases and most of the times the locals restauranteurs and businessmen shy away from filing complaint fearing a backlash from the police.
Almost everyday, the fast food owners and restauranteurs face this demand of free food and beers in the evenings, especially, and they cannot refuse the illicit demand.
The beat police or the constables arrive in cars or bikes and zoom away with the parcels without any payments and the owners have no guts as they fear the police may file some fake cases against them.
Most of teh restaurant and bar owners have become used to this and don’t even react now as they know “they are helpless”. If they complaint it is the same people before whom they have to lodge it and the outcome will be disastrous for them.
Human rights commission orders…
If I remember, in 2013, Two police officers, including an inspector attached to the Maduravoyal police station, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, were pulled up by the state human rights commission for forcing hotel staff to supply them free food.
The commission fined them Rs 1 lakh each and ordered the state government to take departmental action. Describing the act as “a shameful demand”, the commission reprimanded them for assaulting hotel staff and foisting cases on them when they refused to provide food.
Who will bell the cat?
Will the Goa Director General of Police Jaspal Singh and the Home Minister Dr Pramod Sawant act against such officers and constables?
Will teh DGP and the CM order an inquiry into such incidents, if they do half the police force will be sitting home with suspension orders because every policemen on night duty feast on free food ordered from restaurants.
This incidents are common everywhere in Goa but more rampant in the coastal areas as those who do not oblige have to face the music with cases.
Role of police…
Police are one of the most important organisations of the society. The policemen, therefore, happen to be the most visible representatives of the government.
In an hour of need, danger, crisis and difficulty, when a citizen does not know what to do and whom to approach, the police station and a policeman happen to be the most appropriate and approachable unit and person for him.
Their roles, functions and duties in the society are natural to be varied on the one hand; and complicated on legislative checks and judicial control of police activities.