Dears,
There is an old, oft used anecdote about circumstantial evidence and the
truth that could be re-told in the context of the Tuesday night terror at
Panaji and Taleigao. The story goes thus:
A writer borrowed a friend's boat and ventured into the lake. She dropped
anchor at a shady spot near an island in the lake and began working on her
novel. Soon enough the Forest and Park Service personnel heaved next to her
boat and began registering a complaint of illegal fishing against her. She
enquired as to the reason why she was being booked for illegal fishing when all
she was doing was writing a book.
"Well" said the Officer, "You are in a river that has fish that is illegal to
catch; you are in a boat that has the fishing rod and tackle that is in working
condition."
"In that case" replied the lady, "go ahead with your duty. Be warned,
however, that I will ask my lawyers to sue you for molestation and attempted
rape."
"How can that be? questioned the Officer, protesting "I have done nothing of
that sort!"
"Exactly my point in the charge of illegal fishing." said the lady, smiling."
You see , sir. I am a young lady that many find desirable and you are a young
man who has boarded my boat ...and I presume that you have in working condition
the necessary equipment for rape."
Whether the first stone was flung by a Deputy Superintendent of Police [as
reportedly alleged by the BJP MLA of Panaji and Leader of the
Opposition,Manohar Parrikar] or by Babush Monserrate's supporters [as alleged
by the Panaji Police and denied by Babush] or BJP cadres who infiltrated the
morcha and did so under the cover of darkness [as reportedly alleged by the
Congress MLA of Ponda and Home Minister of Goa, Ravi Naik] or by Youth Congress
volunteers favouring the IT Park [as the rumours go in the grapevine]. The fact
is that the Panaji Police station was stoned after dark on Shivaji Jayanti, 19
February, 2008. Who started it all is a matter of dispute .... and conjecture.
What is NOT IN DISPUTE is:
1. Police WOMEN [reportedly the new recruits of the India Reserve Battalion
drafted for Trafic control and 'paraded' by the CM,Home Minister, CS, DGP and
the alleged accused SP [North] at the Press Conference at the Secretariat on 20
February, 2008, to exhibit the injuries caused; see photo on pg 2 of NT dated
21 Feb.] were the ones who were injured while the Police MEN remained largely
indoors during the stone throwing ....although the morcha was almost all-MALE,
walked from Taleigao to Panaji and was peaceful for more than TWO HOURS outside
the Panaji Police Station. There was enough time to SUMMON REINFORCEMENTS FROM
ALTINHO GRP, to take the Police Women in and send the Police MEN [Machos or
Wimps] out.
2. It was an all-Macho Male police force in riot gear that raided the
residences of Babush Monserrate [See photo on page 1 of GT dated 20 Feb. 2008]
to abduct [they have neither been charged for rioting nor been arrested so far]
and assault two teenaged boys and ARMED "Riot Police" guarded the Panaji Police
station AFTER the stone throwing incident [see photo No.11on pg 2 of NT dated
20 February, 2008
3.Mayor of Panaji, Tony Rodrigues, has NOT been ARRESTED do far but was
mysteriously injured and rendered unconscious prior to his admission in a
private hospital named Vintage at the Tonca-Caranzalem to St. Inez link road.
[Tony was allegedly beaten INSIDE the Panaji Police Station by Police Officers
and kicked in the chest by an IPS officer in a knee-jerk reaction AFTER Tony
was already unconscious and physically lifted and thrown on the footpath
outside the Police Station according to a signed complaint submitted to the
Panaji Police on Friday 22 February, 2008, by the sitting MLA of Taleigao and
his wife, an elected member of the North Goa Zilla Panchayat. A similar
complaint is known to have been lodged by the wife of the Mayor on Saturday 23
February, 2008. Both the complained have been RECEIVED by the Panaji Police who
have promised to ENQUIRE before they REGISTER the complaint as a F.I.R. ]
Perhaps the words of Chandrakant Keni in the column "What Goa Needs"
"Government that Surrenders" [NT Panorama 24 February, 2008] is the reality
that Goa will see for some more time to come. Or may his word "succumb" in
reference to the Goa Government be a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
BJP MLAs to meet Speaker over Monserrates arrest
NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, Feb 22 The legislature wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party which met
today morning, decided to call on the Speaker, Mr Pratapsingh Rane on February
25 to discuss the February 19 arrest of the Taleigao MLA, Mr Atanasio
Monserrate, which was carried out without following any proper procedures
required to be carried out in case of detention of a member of the House.
The leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar also wrote a letter to the
Speaker bringing to his notice the breach of privilege of the House committed
by the police who ransacked the house of Mr Monserrate on February 19. The
letter said, All my MLAs have expressed fears that similar tactics will be
used against them.
That unless you as a custodian of the House steps in, the freedom enjoyed by
MLAs is in danger of being lost, the letter says, adding I, therefore,
request you to order the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into the
incident and take necessary action against the erring officials.
Meanwhile, Mr Parrikar briefing the press after the BJP legislature wing
meeting, said that there are certain procedures to be followed before arresting
a MLA, which were clearly violated on the night of February 19. The delegation
of the BJP MLAs calling on Mr Rane, will request him to initiate an action in
this matter, he added.
Speaking further, Mr Parrikar said that BJP not only demands a judicial probe
into the entire February 19 episode, causes that led to the same, and the
incidents following retaliation by the police, but also wants the senior police
officials present during the attack as well as those connected with it,
suspended till the completion of inquiry as they could interfere with the same.
The leader of the opposition further alleged that a DySP present at the venue
of the assault on the night of February 19, was in fact, the first person to
throw a stone, which eventually led to the police retaliation. He was the one
who added fuel to the fire, and I have a witness for this act, Mr Parrikar
stated while refusing to name the DySP. Let the judicial inquiry find out
about this person, he maintained.
Mr Parrikar stated that the needle of suspicion is pointed towards the Home
Minister, Mr Ravi Naik. The BJP has apprehension that it was Mr Naik who
ordered the attack on the elected representatives of the public, he noted,
pointing out, Mr Naik also visited the city police station on February 21 to
make amends for what he had done.
It was also informed that the BJP views the incidents from February 19
onwards in serious light as the police mentality, which may prove disastrous
for any common man, can be clearly observed through the incidents.
Replying to a question as to whether the BJP will raise the issue during the
forthcoming budget session, the leader of the opposition counter questioned,
Will the budget session of the state assembly be held at all. Today is
February 22 and I am yet to receive a communication about the convening of the
budget session, he quipped.
Answering another question, Mr Parrikar said that he has no idea as to
whether the February 19 incidents would lead to the collapse of the state
government. You will have to ask others who are directly linked to this
issue, he added. The Mapusa MLA, Mr Francis DSouza and the Mandrem MLA, Mr
Laxmikant Parsekar were also present on the occasion.
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Bring your gang together - do your thing. Start your group.
