Porvorim: Even as Police officials from Porvorim police station arrested four youth from Porvorim on April 3, 2020 over a car windshield breaking incident, it is alleged that the arrest was conducted without following due procedure of investigation and appears to be an attempt to misuse government machinery for Political gains.
Arrest was based on a complaint lodged by Mamta Sawant who is a daughter of Penha De Franca BJP ZP candidate Radhika Sawant and Porvorim Congress office bearer Gopal Sawant.
Sources claimed that Sawant family has shared personal enemity with the other group of the accused youth in Virlosa, Porvorim. Radhika Sawant and Gopal Sawant has been making multiple attempts to frame charges against these youth.
In the past, during the time when Radhika Sawant served as Sarpanch of Penha De Franca Panchayat, the couple started misusing the Govt Machinery at various levels to target the rival group, sources claimed.
Locals claim that several questions arises on the role of police in these critical times as they have given into such political pressure and harrassed the youth unnecessarily.
The youth claim to be supporters of MLA Rohan Khaunte who himself was a victim of arrest of the similar kind without proper investigation or enquiry during the last assembly session. MLA Rohan Khaunte has already filed a petition in the High Court so that police machinery is not used to arrest innocent on fake cases. Following which high court had issued notices to the Porvorim police station however due to the Coronavirus lockdown there has been no development in the case.
Locals claim that such cases are setting a bad precedent for our state of Goa and this situation may turn to inspector raj and further trigger law and order situation. Porvorim police station has been at the receiving end of major criticism from various sections of the society ever since PI Ninad Deulkar took the charge.
“During the time of the Coronavirus crisis, everyone in Porvorim have come together and are working for helping the people in crisis however BJP ZP Candidate Radhika Sawant and her husband Gopal Sawant are involved in creating issues and playing revenge tactics to suits their petty politics,” locals said.
MLA Rohan Khaunte has demanded Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to take immediate cognisance of the respective case and not to continue the trend of arresting innocent individuals based on a false charges.
As per the press statement given by arrested youth Shubham Bhonsle, Sanjog Bhonsle, Sankalp Bhonsle and Harshad Naik respectively, it appears that they were also victim of police brutality during the arrest.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has filed complaint against PSI Arun Endru and Head constable Prashant Chopdekar of Porvorim police station for arresting and assaulting the youth on false charges. Local elected representatives alleged that the early morning arrest was a politically motivated move by the BJP and was an attempt to misuse govt machinery for revenge politcs and destroying the future of these youth.
“We condemn the police action against our youth on a false complaint by Sawant family. Porvorim police has not given importance to the big cases however always misused power & force to harass our innocent citizens for political revenge,” Gurunath Vernekar, Sapanch, Penha De Franca village panchayat said.
Further highlighting political hand at play, Gabriel Vaz, Panch Member, Penha De France village panchayat said that, “Police have acted on a Political pressure BJP candidate Radhika Sawant and arrested our youngsters without obtaining any evidence against them.”
