GOAN POLICEMEN by Valmiki Faleiro.

GOAN POLICEMEN.

By Valmiki Faleiro.

Almost a year to the Feb 19, 2008 incident. When a mob from Taleigao, led by a mannow a Goa Government minister, stoned Panjim’s police station. The man responsiblefor the police retaliation, Neeraj Thakur, was a North Indian IPS officer. That episodestirred memories. Of how Goan policemen at times were. Like Vishwanath Varik (VV)and Santoba Desai (SK): daring, yet tactful. VV, an Indian Air Force officer who joined the Goa Police after liberation, hailed from Canacona, where he was said to have bare-handedly killed a tiger. I’m not sure of thatstory, but I personally know VV was an excellent shot – with a gun.

There was a protracted workers strike at a mine at Costi, near Curchorem. As now,mineowners were holy cows then, whom the State protected. Several workers died inpolice firing. Their anguished comrades decided to stage a morcha in the mining town. Almost the entire police force, including Goa’s then tiny Reserve, was mobilized intoCurchorem. Among the officers detailed on duty was VV. Able-bodied mine workers (as against the archetypal pot-bellied Goan constables),clogged the streets leading to the Curchorem police station. Riot police lining the roadfrontage to the police premises would have been outnumbered several dozens to one.That’s when VV emerged to talk to a delegation led by George Vaz and NarayanPalekar, the labour leaders, outside the police station.

I was at a vantage point inside the police premises with my press photographer (eitherManikrao Shirodkar or Lui Godinho). I could clearly see VV in discussion, amid the teeming crowds. Suddenly, some hot-blooded young strikers who had quietly surged towards the epicentre, pounced on VV’s holstered service revolver. Not another police firing, I must have barely thought, when VV, in a split, secured hisholster and sprang vertically – with a deafening shriek. His assailants scampered just as instantly. The crowds dispersed in a melee. No firing, no teargas, no lathis.

Generally, though, under-trained policemen are the worst offenders in crowd control.They don’t wear their buckle numbers when on riot duty – making identification difficult,and their intent clear. I have seen officers like VV and SK restraining lathi-wielding copsfrom chasing fleeing crowds. SK once hit his men to disengage them from beating aprotestor fallen to the ground in another turbulence in Margao. SK was Panjim police in-charge in the mid-1970s. Goa was beset with agitations …ramponkars, toddy tappers, anti-prohibition. There was an Opposition-sponsored publicrally at Azad Maidan, bang across the Panjim police station.

Curiously, the then CM’shusband, Gurudatt, took a prominent place in the audience. Everything went well untilBabu Naik, the Opposition Leader, took to the mike. A born tease, Babu let go a verbalfusillade on the CM. This got Gurudatt storm up the dais, wanting to reply. Babu shoutedinto the microphone, “Police, police!” Sensing a major problem, SK rushed onstage. He tried convincing his ultimate boss, theChief Minister’s husband that he could speak after the Opposition rally was over.Gurudatt began shouting back at SK in chaste Marathi. In full public view, SK suddenlylifted the diminutive CM’s hubby, carried him in his arms across the road to his chamber,deposited him into a chair, served chai and biscuits and engaged him in conversation,until the yonder rally was over.

Not all Goan officers were hunky-dory. During the Meta Strips agitation, protestors werepeacefully demonstrating outside the factory, oblivious of a Court order forbidding demoswithin some distance from the premises. When police enlightened them of the injunction,the protestors quietly began walking towards the non-ban line. Suddenly, a (now retired)senior officer whacked the buxom activist Auda Viegas from behind. “Why are you hittingme,” Auda demanded, “when I am walking away.” “I know you are walking,” he replied, “I would like to see you running.” Neeraj Thakur, ha,may as well be beatified! (ENDS.)

The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column.

ON "ALERT FOR CUNCOLKARS"

cuncolkar Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 12:53 PM

cuncolkar Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 9:14 PM

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com

cuncolkar has left a new comment on your post "ALERT FOR CUNCOLKARS.":

Cuncolim is not a panchayat area but a municipal council, you are factually wrong in that regard.

MONTH'S MIND (AGNELO M. RODRIGUES)

There will be an Eucharistic Celebration

for the soul of

Agnelo Manuel Rodrigues

(Kuwait / Siolim - Goa)

(Born: 17/11/1974 - Died: 03/02/2009)

Son of Alex & Rosaria,

Husband of Carmen,

Father of Joshua & Jemina,

On Saturday, 28 February 2009, 7.30 pm, at Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City.

May his soul Rest In Peace.