“Goa’s police force has often been accused of choosing convenience over courage. This incident reinforces that perception. A mob managed to storm a police outpost, threaten a citizen, and damage property. Such an act is not just vandalism—it is a direct assault on the authority of the state. When the police fail to prevent such brazenness, they lose moral ground and public trust.
The complainant had every right to report loud music and disturbance. Instead of ensuring his safety, the police allowed him to become a target. The fact that the assault and damage occurred within sight of uniformed officers is deeply troubling. This was not a lapse in communication; it was a failure of duty.”
It took an explosion—literal and figurative—for the police to finally act. After days of silence and public outrage, Valpoi police have now registered an FIR against at least ten named persons and nearly four hundred others for the chaos that unfolded at the Honda police outpost during Narkasur celebrations. Eight people have been arrested for allegedly forming an unlawful assembly, trespassing into the outpost, assaulting a complainant, and damaging his car by setting off firecrackers inside it.
This belated action comes after the shocking incident that exposed the lawlessness simmering beneath the festive surface of Goa’s villages. What began as a simple complaint over loud music during Narkasur night spiralled into mob fury—right under the watch of police officers. Villagers gathered in anger, the complainant’s car was attacked, and chaos reigned where order should have been upheld. For hours, the police did little but watch.
Now, with FIRs filed and arrests made, the police want to project control. But this response feels more like damage control than law enforcement. Why did it take so long for the police to register a case? Why did the officers at the Honda outpost not act when the mob formed? The problem isn’t only about an attack; it’s about the institution that allowed it to happen.
Goa’s police force has often been accused of choosing convenience over courage. This incident reinforces that perception. A mob managed to storm a police outpost, threaten a citizen, and damage property. Such an act is not just vandalism—it is a direct assault on the authority of the state. When the police fail to prevent such brazenness, they lose moral ground and public trust.
The complainant had every right to report loud music and disturbance. Instead of ensuring his safety, the police allowed him to become a target. The fact that the assault and damage occurred within sight of uniformed officers is deeply troubling. This was not a lapse in communication; it was a failure of duty.
Even now, the arrests cannot mask the underlying issue of police inaction. The mob’s confidence came from knowing they could act with impunity. The police’s slow reaction and reluctance to file an FIR earlier sent a dangerous message: that public order can be negotiated, and that intimidation works. The eventual FIR and arrests are welcome, but they are the bare minimum.
There must be accountability beyond the arrests of the villagers. The conduct of every officer on duty that night must be scrutinised. Who failed to respond when the mob gathered? Who allowed the situation to escalate? Were senior officers informed in time? Unless the police leadership answers these questions publicly, this episode will remain an embarrassing stain on Goa’s law enforcement record.
Festive freedom cannot come at the cost of fear. Narkasur celebrations are part of Goa’s cultural spirit, but when they turn violent, they destroy the very community they’re meant to unite. What happened at Honda is a warning that even small-town policing cannot afford complacency.
The firecrackers that went off inside that car were not just an act of mischief; they were a signal that law and order in some parts of Goa have become dangerously fragile. Arresting a few people after public outrage is not enough. Goa deserves a police force that acts before violence erupts—not one that wakes up after the flames have died down.
The state government and senior police officials must ensure this case is pursued to its logical end. Every accused must be held accountable, and every negligent officer must face disciplinary action. Otherwise, the next mob will only grow bolder, and the next victim may not be as lucky.
