The Despotic Games of Goons, Cops and Political Leaders by Christina Viegas
It is the clash of the men who rule the roost! Yet, it is the common man who faces the brunt. Christina Viegas surveys the scene in the state, when the commoner's life is compelled to come to a standstill
Goons of two rival gangs clash, cops intervene, but apparently the men in khakis are alleged to have unlawfully left the beaten up lad in the hands of his attackers. An MLA leads a mob and attacks the police station wantonly, saying that he was only taking up the cause of one of his voters who was a victim of the goonda-police nexus. The attack on the policepersons was brutal and barbaric and it unnerves even a toughie like me who almost drove right into it, at 11 in the night. Yet, what the cops did after that was 'breaking of the law' which was uncalled for and extreme.
Acting on instructions from a minister and senior police officials, the cops beat up the MLA and his wife and attacked his residence. The twist to the story came in the form of violence giving way to derision when the leader of the opposition made his speech of monotonous accusations and more importantly made his shameless intentions clear of 'targetting the chair'.
Thought we heard of such news only in places like Bihar and Mumbai, but sadly we are talking about our beautiful and once peaceful Goa. An elderly man laments, "Seeing your article in the papers regarding possession of licensed arms, I think most of us should go in for the same, especially, following the recent developments in the state. I am not taking sides, but a man was beaten up and when he asked the cops for protection, he was callously left to the mercy of his attackers."
We get into the whole gamut of taking sides. But the fact is that no one has a right to point fingers as all involved in that series of unfortunate events, went about things the wrong way. The MLA and his wife were beaten up in police custody, in spite of the fact that the law does not permit anybody to torture or beat up someone in lockup. The cops chose to commandeer the powers of the judiciary and the MLA and his men assumed the role of policemen.
It is understandable to see the agitated MLA and his wife visibly angered at their son being beaten up. Which parent wouldn't be? But wait a minute! What about those poor cops who were brutally stoned, the majority being women - those young ladies we see daily, who work conscientiously and are not even corrupt like most of their male counterparts? Besides, there are protests against the mayor and the MLA's ill-treatment at the hands of the police. But, what about the screams and cries of so many other common men behind those 'salaakein'? Who protests or looks into their misery?
To worsen matters, shops, markets, business organisations, etc are bullied into closing down. And who suffers? Not the cops, or the politicians, or the goons who bring about this situation. But the common man!
An owner of a grocery shop in Taleigao, whispers, "We just have to listen to them Madam. If we keep our shop open, they will probably burn it down, then what do my family and I do for a living."
Beauty parlours, IT companies, fruit and vegetable vendors, the chicken seller, all faced substantial losses. Now the situation stinks even further with the Corporation of the City of Panjim going on a strike. Uncaringly the garbage is left to rot. Why should the public be taken to task? When disease breaks out, it is our children who will face the brunt of the various illnesses. While the market remains closed, again it is not just public inconvenience, but huge losses to the vendors.
But then again, it is these very 'common men' who elevate onto that corrupt pedestal - those 'conmen'!
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=022639
