Politicians, police and drug lords are all in the same game in Goa - By Nisser Dias

GOA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

The slugfest between Goa and its counterparts in Hyderabad over non-cooperation and denial allegations in the investigation into the death of BJP leader Sonali Phogat case has exposed the defunct BJP government headed by ‘Outsider’ chief minister Pramod Sawant and his caged police force. Moreover, it has exposed the incapabilities, failures and inefficiency of Sawant who holds the Home portfolio. The Kolhapur ‘import’ should pack his bags and permanently leave Goa for his ‘Ganv’. The chief minister termed Phogat’s death as cardiac arrest. In stark contrast, the autopsy revealed that she died of an overdose of drugs combined with blunt force trauma. Pramod Sawant does not only expose himself as a clown but makes the police personnel look like a bunch of fools. BJP leader who is alleged to have overdosed on drugs is a grim reminder to the powers that be that narcotics and psychotropic substances are abundantly and freely available in this part of the paradise because of the patronage and tutelage of the police and the politicians. It has always been an open secret that politicians, police and drug kingpins and peddlers have woven a strong network and beneficiaries of the blood money or drug business. Have we forgotten that cabinet minister Ravi Naik’s son was probed for alleged drug links and was supposedly the kingpin along the north Goa coastal belt? Police officer Sunil Gudlar was arrested in 2011 upon the evidence of video recording selling narcotics to two foreign nationals. He was also linked to missing drugs from the police godown, supposedly consumed by rodents according to the police version without realizing that two-legged rodents are also part of Goa’s police force. Ruling politicians have always been in denial that drugs are freely available along the coastal belt of north Goa, not that it is not available in south Goa but to a much lesser level. After fatal incidents like Phogat, Scarlett and others, the government and the police get into the mode of public eye wash. They carry out raids and arrest the small fry. But after a fortnight it is business as usual.

GOA POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Be that as it may, that our police force lacks investigative skills is widely known. There is a concept known as circumstantial proof and direct evidence in any investigation. Goa police fail to understand this aspect and the result is a high percentage of acquittals in narcotic cases. Goa police investigation is to first arrest the suspects and gather all the evidence with their help. When a person or persons are arrested, the charge sheet has to be filed in the court of law within 90 days or the law allows default bail for suspects. Investigations can go for much longer period. Unfortunately, for the investigating agencies, their burden is to file a charge-sheet when the burden on them should be to seek a conviction. The police have to change their mode of investigation and arrest the person only after gathering circumstantial and direct evidence. The police are simply incapable of such investigations. In Sonali Phogat’s case, Inspector General of police (IGP) Omvir Singh is on record saying that the latter was forced to drink an obnoxious substance. This premise sounds hollow simply because it is very difficult to force any liquid into a person’s mouth without consent. The jaw has such strong muscles that it is impossible to pry it open unless the victim is either held captive and being tortured to drink or intoxicated or is a willing partner in the act. Late Sonali was at a social place hence ‘forcing her to drink’ obnoxious substance flies out of the window. She either had knowledge of what she was drinking or had complete trust in the person putting the bottle to her mouth.

NISSER DIAS

Police will have to coin a better phrase than ‘forced to drink’ otherwise they will play into the hands of defence lawyers. Interestingly BJP dictates what citizens should eat, drink or consume, say and wear, and the time when we go out or stay home. However, it seems the executive orders are for the general public and not for the members of the BJP party. Similarly if the ‘bhailo’ chief minister of Goa Pramod Sawant cannot protect the lives of his own BJP party colleague as Home minister, how can he possibly protect us? Resign, Pramod Sawant, resign. You are an utter misfit and a complete failure.