Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jun 12: Peoples friendly police stations and officers is the need of the hour for proper detection of crimes in Goa, remarked Shantaram Naik, Rajya Sabha M P at Ponda today.

Naik who was addressing a gathering in a meeting convened by Goa State Womens Commission to express concern about the serial killer Mahanand Naik who has allegedly confessed about 16 murders by now, further said that people should feel going to a police station is as smooth and simple like going to Mamledar or Collector office, or a bank or even a restaurant.

Naik said apart from police stations and police officers becoming peoples friendly, they should be more friendly and cordial with the potential witnesses, with whose assistance only, a crime can be detected, investigated and criminals can be prosecuted.

The central and also state governments have to involve effective Witness Protection Schemes so that those who are witnesses to commissions of crime are encouraged and also feel safe to help the law machinery.

Naik further said that there is no denial that cases of political interferance with process of investigation do not take place but that upright police officers should not bother about uncalled for interference by politicians.

However, Naik said that it is also a duty of peoples representative to help persons who are accused of crimes that they are not unduly harassed and there are no Human Rights Violations against them.

Naik appealed to the people to be cautious of so called saints and sadhus who have established themselves in Goa but whose background is not only questionable but several Goans may fall victims to their guidance.

The recent case of a similar person in Delhi who duped thousands of innocent devotees with their hard earned savings totaling into crores of rupees is an example for every alert citizen to keep in mind, he said.

Pramod Salgaonkar President of Goa State Womens' Commission said that there is a general lethargy among certain police officers which affacts proper handling of complaints.

If a complaint is made regarding missing women ,police station in charge humiliate complainants by making conjectures that woman must have eloped with somebody or that she may be mentally unsound and must be wandering somewhere.

She said it is also society's humiliation of unmarried girls whiich, ultimately, in desperation, make them fall pray to criminals like Mahanand.

Tara kerkar said criminals like Mahanand should not be hanged but should be stoned to death publicly.

Monika Dias, Chairperson Goa Khadi Board, said that the police officials of Goa Police C L Patil deserves congratulations for nabbing the culprit.

Bharati prabhu Desai, president of Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Parishad said that women have to compel the police officials to investigate the serial murder case to its logical conclusion

Anita Kawlekar said that NGOs can perform an effective role to play in prevention of crimes.

Shaila Dsouza, Beena Naik, Anita Gawas, members of Women Commission were also present at the meeting.

Gulab Vernekar, member of Womens Commission compered the proceedings of the meeting.