5th March 2023 Anjuna Brutal Assault : STOP VICTIM BLAMING.
Victim blaming and shaming would not neither restore the faith of the tourists, nor make Goa the favourite tourist destination.
Time and again, it has been validated, that as a last resort to save face, and shield the accused, "Victim Blaming" is the best option.
No doubt, this has happened in the case of Anjuna Brutal Assault on Mr. Ashwin Chandrani, Mr. Jatin Sharma and family.
The amusing fact is that, the said incident occurred on 5th of March 2023, and the incident came to light a week after on 12th of March, after the victims shared their plight on Social Media, perhaps being encouraged by the tweet of Mr.Herman Golmes, where he put up a video of tourists beating a security guard at Old Goa.
Like, every tourist they had resigned to their fate and lost all faith in Goa Police and State Administration, in spite of grievous injuries to their family, and left for Delhi.
After scurrying to hide their behind, after the SM onslaught, and registering the FIR under Section 307; it was time to set the stage right for Government of Goa, and Goa Police. By blaming the victim.
Lets see how it has been reported by Gomantak Times, the way the incident unfolded:
1. Ashwin Kumar Chandrani came outside the resort, he began assaulting Royston Dias. Royston was dragged. A crowd formed soon, they went to help the accused and thus ensued the fight.
Lets suppose all this is true, and Mr.Ashwin Chandrani did acted that way. There was 7 days, for such helpful locals of Anjuna, the accused who has suddenly become victim; and the resort management to come forward and put the things straight.
But, it was not done. Gomantak has reported that, Police have a video of the said assault; but still the Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station, did not file a counter-case on Mr.Chandrani, Mr.Jatin Sharma and family? Amazing?
None of the onlookers from the crowd, either took a video, where the instant impulse is to record such an untoward incident. After all, on how many days, you get to see, an educated elderly tourist from Delhi, beating a local?
2. The accused Royston Dias was abused by the victim's family repeatedly.And thus he lost it.
Anyone who has ever been in a job, would tell that, if you are being abused at work-place, the first thing to do is to go and report your supervisor, all the way to highest management.
The safety and welfare of the staff comes first and foremost, always for any hospitality establishement, and they would not tolerate any such non-sense.
If this would have been true case, the resort management had all the rights, to ask Mr.Ashwin Chandrani and family to leave the resort immediately, refund them the balance of money. After all, hotel stays comes with all the terms and conditions.Booking a resort and paying money for it, does not mean, that one has the right to passage, to do anything and everything at resort.
But, what the resort management did, was to ask the accused to leave the hotel's premises?
Amazing and hilarious!
3. Gomantak Times has no footage, neither claims that they have seen the footage of Mr.Ashwin Kumar assaulting Royston.
Royston was assaulted, he did not go to Police for help? Why? Being a local resident, Police would have been much more sympathetic to him, compared to an outsider. He had al the time to gang up, get all the knives and swords and bats; but did not have time to inform Police.
Amazing?
4. Some reports say, that Guests were drinking at Pool and were forbid to do so by accused.
This resort must be the only resort/hotel in Goa, which would be having a policy of not drinking besides the pool. While the remaining rest, have a nearby bar or poolside bar. Creating ruckus, and disturbing peace, after getting sloshed is highly undesirable, but drinking besides the pool?
Like seriously?
5. Gomantak times reports that Royston asked them 5 times, to stop smoking hookah besides the pool. Well surely, smoking at a public place is an offense, but the publication is silent, from where the family procured the hookah?
Either they could have got the hookah with themselves fro Delhi or from the resort itself. While the first case seems highly unlikely, one can wonder about the second one.
6. Gomantak has also reported some hotel employee, that Royston was not sacked but asked to leave, on the basis of complaint of the victim family.
This is the most amazing part. When the accused was so sincere and diligent, only doing his duty; the resort management instead of acting for the welfare of their honest and diligent staff; acted ont he sides of tourists?
If this is such a case, then the resort is the most undesirable place to work, and all employees should resign immediately.
7. Some strange individual who is supposed to be investigating with the matter (when Goa Police and Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station himself failed for first 7 days), said that resort has refunded the full amount to the victim family.
Well, this is just to save their resort's name being maligned further. To placate them, and shut them off.
8.At last, again one curious source of Gomantak Times reports that, stone was thrown at the accused, and that instigated the fight?
Let first decide, whether the accused was hassled, dragged first or the stone was thrown first?
9.The accused got furious on the stone being thrown and then they attacked with knives, according to Gomantak Times.
So, the accused came prepared with knives, swords, belts and bats; that in case Mr.Ashwin Chandrani finds a stone somewhere at the resort and throws it to them, they would reply back with everything available at hand.
This is the kind of reporting which has kept Goa in to shambles and has put it into hands of rogues and goons; where truth can be buried by nepotism and money power.
If registering a FIR under the stringent 307 IPC, was to restore the faith of tourists in the system; it hasa completely went down the drain by victim blaming and shaming.
No attempts were made to contact the Victim family, and take their detailed statements. No attempts were made to ascertain the facts, apart from those mumbled by unidentified and confidential sources. No attempts were made to get the CCTV footage; and verify the incident(s).
Victim blaming is the most potent weapon to discourage other people, to come forward and place their grievance before law enforcement authorities. It breaks people's resolve and faith alike.Just because the accused were native local Goans, the administration and some dumb-headed publications are cooking story, about victim family instigating the violence.
Imagine, if instead of native local Goans, the violence was purpoted by immigrant workers from UP/MP/Bihar or HP; these very same people, would have been out hammers and tongs; and have ensured that they share the entire the blame of the violence on them.
If Goa has to change, the mindset of the state administration and Goa Police, along with some strange publications, who type first and thin later, needs to change. When the Chief Minister himself perpetrates victim blaming, holding tourism related festivals everyday, would not make the Goa haven for tourists.
