Police-people clash in Benaulim caught in fire
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 June 2013 22:31 IST
People Against Atrocities and Injustice (PAAI) has condemned the lathicharge and firing of tear gas shells against citizens of Benaulim yesterday.
PAAI convenor Cyril Fernandes has described the act of police as an act of cowardice and immaturity.
The police yesterday resorted to firing three rounds in the air and bursting tear gas shells as the irate mob of Benaulim attacked the police station and vehicles on the issue of a group of tourists kidnapping a minor girl student.
The girl was kidnapped in the afternoon while she was going for tuitions by eight North Indian tourists on two wheelers, under the pretext of not knowing the way to the beach.
The villagers, suspecting a foul play behind the girl being taken away by the tourists, followed them and succeeded in nabbing few from the group.
The police later moved into action and arrested all the eight tourists, but the villagers marched to the police station and demanded custody of the accused, stating that they have no faith in police.
They damaged police vehicles and the furniture in the Colva police station while also attacking some policemen.
AAAP Convenor Fernandes felt that the police could have handled the whole incident in a civilised manner rather than resorting to firing and lathicharge.
While justifying the action of the villagers, Fernandes said the people have lost faith in the police due to their failure in handling cases of sexual attacks against the minors.
