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Dear Netters, The Editor of Gomantak Times[www.gomantaktimes.com] in a front page editorial on 28 September,2004, has exposed the atttempt of the Goa Police to browbeat him and the GT journalists into silence. He has requested the opinion of his readers in the "People's Court". Though the maxim, "Vox Populi, Vox Dei." hardly holds good in our democratically-elected dictatorships, it is worthwhile putting our views down in black and white. ----- Original Message ----- From: Miguel Braganza To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: CM Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 7:12 PM Subject: People's Court Dear Editor, If amidst an almost mute fourth estate, an editor of a daily broadsheet newspaper speaks up, it becomes too much for some minions of the Goa Administration to bear. The letter from the PRO of the Goa Police has to be seen in that context. It does have a pearl of wisdom in it. However, like a prophet, these words of wisdom are apparently not accepted in the place they originate. DySP.S.M. Sawant, the Police PRO has been quoted as writing to a local newspaer Editor,**"Well meaning changes can be brought about only through genuine praise and restrained pointing out of faults..."** If one removes the word 'only',his statement can be validated as the truth. St.Britto High School-Mapusa has introduced the practice of "Positive Remarks" in the student's calendar to acknowledge the good work done by a student. It has worked wonders. The positive approach is what drives the PLUS tabloids, some of which I edit. However, let us examine the Goa Police record for this practice. The helmet rule was suddenly implemented [ for the 'n'th time] from 16 August,2004. Unaccustomed to wearing a helmet, I forgot my helmet at Panaji and proceeded home as I had done for the last few year: helmetless! At the Namoshi-Xell intersection near Green Park Hotel,Guirim, I was stopped,challaned and paid the fine to 'compound' my offence. This was as per Motor Vehicles Act,1988,as enforced for the highways in Goa.[ If it has been so notified in the Official Gazette of Goa, I am not aware.]. A twenty-something years old North Indian boy named Sachin was not so lucky. Head Constable[Buckle Number 2978] was irritated that Sachin did not bring the motorcycle to a dead stop near his foot. He took the few paces forward and assaulted the boy right in full view of the public and PSI S.S.Narvekar of the Mapusa Police. Nowhere in the MVA,1988 or rules framed thereunder, is a policeman empowered to assault a rider for not wearing a helmet. I protested to the PSI. Had the policeman not been in uniform and on duty, the people might have beaten the daylights out of the hawaldar No.2978. This is definitely abuse of one's official position and brings no respect to the uniform. That the people did not beat up the erring cop was restraint. That I informed the PSI and did not write it in a newspaper is a "restrained pointing out of fault". The police merrily continued in being high handed, even with ladies on Kinetic Hondas and within the city limits of Mapusa. That the affected citizens resorted to an impromptu "rasta roko" in Mapusa was restraint. Do we see a change in the police attitude in Mapusa or elsewhere in Goa. They think of themselves as demi-gods or mini Devas and behave like the asuras. A policeman chased little Suresh Gollar alias Kalia to death under a garbage van on 30 March, 2004. The press has not just shown restraint; it has almost been a mute spectator. The Goa Police has not yet even named the policeman concerned. It is six month since he died. The only change that we heard about is that four street kids were assaulted by the Vasco harbour police. It is still a moot question whether two of them were sexually abused. The boys stand by their story; the DGP glosses it with technicalities. Ringleman walked away from the police HQ, unescorted, enroute his so-called "deportation". When a senior of mine in Bangalore was deported to Malaysia for the crime of falling in love with the daughter of an influential scientist, the police stood guard at the door of the plane till it was shut before take-off. One would think the police would do as much for a know paedophile. The Goa Police has as big, if not bigger, stake in drug trade, paedophilia and prostitution as pimps and agents. It helps them to extort money from the unwitting tourists who shiver at the though of two to ten years in an Indian jail. I have visited Aguada jail with the then IG-Prisons to know the state of affairs there. Our Chief Minister has boldly knocked off the pipeline of 'hafta' from Baina. These gentlemen will do all they can do to protect their other source of revenue. If anyone has a doubt of the police-criminal-hafta nexus, just try getting the police to restrict the number of passengers in a bus to the authorized level. They turn a blind eye to it everyday because they 'hafta' do it. Otherwise, the "Ferry boat" and the "Market" bus stops are just a stone's throw away from the Panaji City Police,the Traffic Cell and the Police HQ. If the city buses toe the line, the other buses can be convinced to do likewise. Panaji is, after all, the CM's constituency. Did the PRO speak about change?? Would the Goa Police act to prove me wrong? Or would it rather be happy just to brow-beat its critics to silence? Restraint, that is a big word for cops to use. Miguel Braganza Rajwaddo-Mapusa. ........................................ I have made my point. Will you please state yours. Send it to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Viva Goa. Miguel