Between the attacks on Felix Dahl at Patnem in 2015 and on Jatin Sharma at Anjuna in 2023, nothing has changed for Goa Police in last 8 years.
Prashal Dessai who leads the Anjuna PS currently, was the Investigating Officer of Felix Dahl death case at Canacona PS earlier.
A lot can be achieved by organisations with able and tenacious leadership in 8 Years. As the Finnish company ROVIO, famous for the Angry Birds game, proves, it takes only 8 years to be an overnight success.
It was proved yesterday however, the same cannot apply for Goa Police at least. They need at least 80 Years to come to the standards of a good police force.
More than 8 years back in January 2015, Finnish citizen Felix Dahl was found dad under mysterious and suspicious circumstances at Patnem South Goa, Goa Police registered an accidental death case, all the while maintaining that he died due to a fall inflicted while doing acrobatics, in the middle of the night, at a lonely stretch of the road at Patnem.
Cut to Circa March 2023; Tourists from Delhi, Jatin Sharma and his family were brutally assaulted with knives, swords and belts at a resort in Anjuna. While having the full video of the incident available, along with the statement of witness, Anjuna Police under the leadership of Police Inspector Prashal Dessai, instead of applying stringent Section 307 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which is a non-bailable offence and the accused(s) could be en to Police or Judicial Custody; books the 3 accused under much lenient Sections 323 & 324 (IPC), and later released them.
Only after the furor on SM, and thus scrambling to save their faces, the accused were arrested and attempt to murder charges were applied.
Interesting thing to note is : Prashal Dessai was the Investigation Officer (IO), then a PSI at Canacona Police Station in Felix Dahl murder case. Today, he leads the Anjuna Police Station as Police Inspector.
The brazen broad day light attack on the family of Mr.Jatin Sharma at a tourist resort at Anjuna means only one thing, the accused were confident that nothing would happen to them, if at all a minor case, which eventually would get settled. This could happen only when accused were already hand in gloves with Anjuna Police.
In the case of Felix Dahl, the prime accused Lenslood Fernandes was never even taken for a suspect, despite the mounting circumstantial evidence against him and repeated pleas by the family of deceased to act without prejudice and malice.
Only one easy answer to this conundrum, Lenslood Fernandes was under the protection of Canacona Police of Goa.
Tourists, both domestic and international, which bring all the revenue to state and it's citizens, for an otherwise bankrupt state, which can't even pay salaries to it's employees on due date; are left to fend for themselves on their own.
Gullible from the moment they land in Goa, right from hiring a taxi to arrive at their designated destination; their final pillar of faith, that vacation would be safe and happy, is the belief that Goa Police would do it's job; and shall stand by its motto of "Peace, Service and Justice", but on a consistent basis, their faith has gone down the drain.
Locals with muscle and money power, knowing fairly well, that Tourist are already 99 steps behind them, as soon as they land, take full advantage of their proximity to the local Police, and exploit the Tourists to their will and content. And as so many cases in the past, likes of Felix Dahl and now Jatin Sharma proves; that they are not shy of even committing the most heinous of crimes.
Imagine someone coming off to Goa, to enjoy their vacation, gets harassed and assaulted, ask Police to help; and instead of helping the Tourist, Police takes the side of local goons and dacoits; knowing fairly well, that for long a Tourist can take a stand, after all? Specially, knowing the archaic Judicial system in India.
Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of the State of Goa, inaugurate at least one or other event, everyday, which according to them, shall bring more Tourists to Goa and thus more prosperity to it's citizens; while fairly knowing that infrastructure in Goa has already crumbled under the Tourist overload and influx.
Tourists don't seem to mind that, as they are aware of big talks and tiny walks of the state administration.
But would they continue to not give a darn, when there is broad day-light goondagardi and dacoity that has started to happen here?
NO!
India has a coastline of more than 6,000 Kms, of which only 60 Kms is in Goa. People who love pristine beaches and serene environment, have lot more options to choose.
Safety first, is the motto of every living being; and when with the help of Goa Police, if the human rights are violated and attacked consistently, not long before, that Goa would be Gone!
Don’t show one side of d story. All know the nature of Delhi tourists. Share the cctv footage. They attacked first with stones and assaulted the Goan hotel manager when he told them not 2 smoke hooka near swims pool. The Goan FIR was not registered. Don’t spoil name of Goa. We hardly get quality tourists. All come here for drugs and ladki.