Dear Editor,
The discussion in the media about the unfortunate death of the
British teenager Scarlette Keeling is hotting up, but at the same time is
confusing the real issue. There have been many questions raised about the
irresponsibility of Scarlette's mother who left her minor daughter in the
care of a local tourist guide whom she barely knew. Her irresponsibility
is further highlighted in the British Press by the revelation that she has
had nine children by five different men and that she seems to have evolved
her own personal code of ethics. However, all this is besides the point.
Questions have been raised in Parliament about the need for the
investigation to be handed over to the CBI. The Government has turned down
this request on the ground that maintenance of law and order is a State
subject, and that the Central Government is not authorized to interfere in
the ongoing investigations.
The real issue, however, is not the investigation into the
alleged murder of the British teenager, but the role of the Goa Police in
the entire episode. Fiona McKeown, the mother of the murdered girl, in
her letter to the Prime Minister of India, explicitly accuses the Goa Police
of obfuscating the investigations. She also explicitly alleges a nexus
between the Police and the drug mafia which is operating in the coastal belt
of Goa. Surely these are more fundamental (and more serious) issues which
need to be looked into by the Central Government. What is at stake here is
the complete breakdown of the law enforcement machinery in Goa, which is
most certainly the responsibility of the Central Government. Allegations
are flying around, including some by police officers who request anonymity,
that the drug mafia has practically taken control of the functioning of the
police department. They influence the direction of the investigations and
even determine the outcome of the investigations.
The citizens of Goa have, for a long time, been aware of the
proliferation of drugs and alcohol in the coastal belts of Goa. They have
been aware of the collusion between the police and the criminals. Now the
police themselves are alleging (anonymously) political patronage of the drug
mafia.
The situation is too serious to be left in the hands of a
tainted police administration. The corruption has spread too deep and too
wide. It is high-time that the Central Government institute a high level
judicial investigation into the functioning of the Goan police
administration and indicate remedial actions which need to be taken.
Yours truly,
Averthanus L. D'Souza
