Panaji: The opposition parties on Friday attacked Goa’s Director General of Police Jaspal Singh alleging his involvement in the illegal demolition of a house at Assagao in North Goa.
The demolition of the house at Assagao had created political controversy with Chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant instituting high level inquiry led by chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel into the case.
The opposition parties on Friday pointed out to the media report which quoted the inquiry findings which had alleged involvement of State DGP Jaspal Singh into the matter.
The report had claimed that Police Inspector Prashil Desai, attached to Anjuna Police station, had informed the Chief secretary that the DGP had shouted on him when he stopped the demolition, last week.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao told on Friday reporters that DGP’s involvement is just tip of the iceberg. “Linkage from BJP to DGP needs to be probed. It is an open secret that BJP patronises Land and Real Estate Mafia,” he said.
Alemao questioned why Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant was avoiding questions from Media on the issue. The LoP demanded Judicial Inquiry under retired high court judge.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar said that the revelations by Anjuna Police exposes how DGP misused his position to protect an outsider in an illegal act. “I demand Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant to immediately ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah to sack the DGP for his involvement in Assagao House demolition case,” he said.
Patkar questioned “How can we expect Police Department to function in free and fair manner when the Super Boss himself pressurises his subordinates?”
AAP Goa President Amit Palekar wrote on his X handle “Words coming out from the horses mouth is that Assagao incident is directly connected through non uniform wearing Police officer to CM @DrPramodPSawant and that’s why he as Home Minister is quite when media questions him.”He said that similar incident had happened at Caranzalem where poor Goan couple with infant and a child were forcefully evicted with the help of bouncers and police and house was razed to ground overnight.
“Till date no complaint is registered on the incident and a poor Goan is admitted till date for treatment in IPHB (Institute of Psychiatric and Human Behaviour) due to shock. The person who did it is again close to CM. Law and order situation has never been so worse in Goa ever,” he said.
When contacted, DGP Jaspal Singh said that he has asked Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta to comment on the issue.
The case of demolition has been shifted to the Crime Branch (CB) which has constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate.
Talking to reporters, Gupta said that the SIT has arrested six persons in connection with the demolition case. He said that the teams are sent to Belgaum (Karnataka) and Mumbai to arrest more accused.
When asked about the allegations against the DGP, Gupta said that the news report making allegations on senior police officer is based on “unsigned and unverified” document.
He refused to speak further on the involvement of the DGP.
