Belying all expect-ations, the innocent and the weak are no longer safe in Goa. In the last two years, crimes against women and children have increased so drastically that even the police department admits it is a ‘sick’ state of affairs. JONQUIL SUDHIR reports.

“The State shall ensure that children and the young are protected against exploitation and that they are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.” – The Goa’s Children Act, 2003

oing by the latest figures of crimes against children, the State seems to have failed in ensuring that children are protected against exploitation and abuse among other things. Statistics released by the Police Department reveal that as of 31 August, 2004, there have already been 28 crimes committed against children this year, the majority being cases of rape and molestation. Ten days into the month of September and the local dailies have already reported the molestation of a five-year-old child and the alleged beating of four minor children - by the police! And the women are not safe either. The year 2003 saw 103 crimes being committed against women, with arrests being made in 93 of these cases. This year has already seen 68 crimes against the fairer sex with more than 10 of these having gone undetected.

And these figures are likely to go up. Crimes against children have witnessed a sharp increase in the last two years. From 21 in 2002, the number more than doubled in 2003 with the figure rising to 48. And these are only the cases that have been reported to the police. It is unknown how many other children have been exploited and/or abused, but have chosen to be silent out of embarrassment or fear. And the number is large. Human rights activists and social workers claim that many victims choose not to complain to the police out of fear of further victimisation. Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad says that the long, tedious process involved in getting justice for victims proves to be more traumatic for the sufferer. “It takes so long for the victim to get justice that he/she cannot move on with their lives. They are constantly interrogated and reminded of past events that they are more distressed after reporting the crime than before,” remarks Ms Martins.

Under threat in public, childern may now have to stay at home to be safe.

And the insensitive treatment meted out to them by the Police does not help. In some cases, the police refuse to, or very reluctantly, register molestation and rape complaints. The Police have been accused of insensitivity when it comes to interviewing victims. As was recently observed when the Old Goa police questioned a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly molested by the Parish priest of Ribandar. The Police questioned the girl in front of an irate mob. The girl, nervous and terrified, understandably denied the charge.

And if reports are to be believed, a recent incident proves that children are not only in danger from the common man but also from the police. This week, four children were allegedly beaten by the Vasco Police who arrested them on suspicion of theft. According to the children, the police arrested them at 1 pm, but were produced before a magistrate only at 11.30 pm. The children allege that in the period between their arrest and meeting the judge, they were beaten by the police and asked to perform sexual acts on each other. The Director General of Police, Amod Kanth, and other top police officials are tight-lipped on the issue, though Vasco police have refuted the allegations saying that the children were beaten by an angry crowd that had caught them stealing. But it is precisely because of incidents like this that several social workers sometimes dissuade victims from reporting crimes (if they are minor ones).

The excruciatingly long judicial process is another deterrent. The Goa Children’s Act, 2003, stipulated that the State government constitute a Children’s Court to try cases in a child-friendly environment. But, the Court is yet to be functional. Which means perpetrators of crimes against children have not been tried for lack of a Court, prolonging the agony of not only the victims, but their families as well. The Government has only recently identified space at Shramshakti Bhavan to set up the Children’s Court and the three jury members - Pramod Salgaoncar, Anita Quenim and Irene Cotta Cardozo - have been appointed. Until such time the Court becomes functional, child molesters and abusers will be free to roam the streets. While innocent victims either take shelter at home or are sent to the Protective Home at Merces.

Goan women too are under siege. The State has witnessed a steep increase in crimes against women with several of them going undetected, the majority of these being rape, molestation and cruelty to married women by husbands or relatives. In this year alone, 21 women have been raped, 16 molested and 13 abused by their husbands. And contradictory to the myth that it is the bhaile who commit these crimes, the perpetrators in the majority of these cases are very much Goan. The DGP, Amod Kant, has stated that the Police Department is “defenceless against crimes of passion.” Incidentally, the majority of cases in which arrests have been made are crimes of passion. Where, in the heat of the moment, the accused have left behind vital clues or confessed. In the event of planned, seemingly pre-medidated crimes, the perpetrators remain elusive. Consider this. The murderers of Anjana Shirodkar, a victim of an acid-throwing incident and Tanuja Naik, who died of a gunshot wound, are yet to be identified. Maria Jenifer Vaz, a 25-year-old nurse was killed in Panjim and thrown into Rua de Ourem in March. No arrest has been made. Also in March, a young lady and her child were found brutally murdered at Anjuna. There has been no progress in the police investigation. On June 1, an unidentified lady was found murdered at Old Goa. No clues about who the killer is. On 2 nd June, 2004, Agnes Lobo, a senior citizen was robbed and murdered in Pilerne. The perpetrator has not been found. Further eroding the people’s faith in the Police Department.

Admitting that he is “sick of the increasing number of crimes against women and children”, Amod Kant, in a meeting with NGOs and media persons took full responsibility for the surge in crime. Kant also admitted insensitivity and indifference of the police towards victims. In a bid to reduce the occurrence of such crimes, the Police Department is now setting up a Goa Police Women and Children Protection Unit. The components of which will be a Women’s Police Station (one that is functional hopefully), Special Juvenile Police Unit, juvenile and child welfare officers, women’s helpline, child helpline, social workers and NGOs as well as professionals like doctors, psychologists, lawyers and consultants. Kant asked that the NGOs work with the Police to achieve their objectives. Two of which are professional, scientific, meticulous and sensitive investigation and prosecution and to help provide support structure to victims of rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, children in need of care and protection and juveniles in conflict with the law.

Though viewing it as a positive move by the Police Department, the NGOs present remained sceptical. One woman was heard whispering, “Yes, yes t hey all promise wonderful things, but when it comes to co-operation, we receive none.” The NGOs present chorused the single most important factor if the Unit is to be successful. The implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Goa Children’s Act - two acts that many members of the police force are not familiar with. If the police fail to implement these, NGOs threaten to “work out our own plan of our action.” Which may very well be the need of the day. Considering the rising number of crimes against women and children.

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