Human rights organisations raise concern over the manner of police probe in triple unnatural deaths of migrants in Goa

Prakash Kamat

Panaji, July4- The National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation(NCHRO),Goa Unit, Council for Social Justice and Peace, Human Rights Defenders, and concerned civil society members have been closely monitoring the manner in which the triple unnatural methods suicide case that rocked Goa has been handled by Goa police. 

In a joint statement issued here on Sunday, they have pointed out that the police inquiry so far has missed on some key issues which could provide more accurate and objective truths. They have further noted that the failure to provide credible answers to public concerns has now prompted the police to shift the inquiry into the hands of the Crime Branch. It is hoped that the Crime Branch inquiry will not be driven by the same anti-poor, anti- migrant worker narrative that tends to cloud effective and scientific investigations. Alternately, the inquiry should be conducted by an independent commission of inquiry for the sake of justice and fairness. Such an approach assumes added relevance considering that issues of bias and police harassment have been raised. 

There are already serious complaints by the family of harassment by the police of the deceased. It is being asked whether this can be attributed to the fact that the victims and their families come from conditions of disadvantaged caste, class, region, (the victims were all migrants), and hence already vulnerable and disadvantaged. It is not uncommon for the police to adopt dual standards in dealing with vulnerable communities when power lies on the side of the complainant, say the organisations.

The inquiry into the unnatural deaths must at least now reveal if there is influence being peddled by the complainant that is slowing the inquiry. Either that angle has either not been investigated adequately, or not at all. Whatever be the case, the matter cannot be kept concealed. Not only has the inquiry been dragged, it lacks transparency and is discriminatory to the deceased and their families. 

The groups have stated that they are forced to ask why the post mortem of the bodies was conducted at the Goa Medical College and Hospital(GMC) at Bambolim in North Goa when the entire incident happened in the South district, and consequently why the bodies were not taken to the South Goa District Hospital for examination; and further, as to why the post mortem was conducted by postgraduate students and a junior medical officer and not by any senior post graduate medical officer. They have stated that this smacks of the discriminatory attitude with which the police as well as the medical authorities have handled a serious matter involving three unnatural deaths.   This question needs to be examined separately under the authorities of the GMC and the State Health Department and credible answers must be forthcoming, the groups have remarked     

The groups have also pointed out that the police have disseminated selective and biased information to the media which could prejudice public perceptions that defame the deceased victims from a sheer class bias. The note alleged to be written by the deceased is yet to be proven as authentic. The information we have suggests that none of the deceased victims were literate. What real evidence does the police have that the victims authored the note? Did they compare any two handwritings of the said victims that would justify their findings?   

Just like we have information about the victims and their families based on investigations, the complainant must also be summoned and queried. It is important for the police to make known the precise figure that the allegedly stolen adds up to? The police should also make public the copy of the FIR/Complaint letter just as they have voluntarily shared information about the so-called note found in the room of the deceased. We demand equitable standards in the investigation of the victims and their families and that of the complainant.  If required other agencies such as the Income Tax department should be involved in investigation. It is the fundamental right of every citizen to get justice, without being discriminated based on region, caste, class and the influence and power of the complainant.   

"We believe that the bodies constituted for the protection of the human rights such as the Goa State Human Rights Commission, Goa State Women’s Commission, and State Police Complaint Authority should take suo moto cognizance and conduct an inquiry," said the joint statement signed by Ranjan Solomon, President, NCHRO, Goa and others.                          

The organisations have said that they were waiting with keenness an urgent report of this renewed investigation.  In a case of such severity, speed is of the essence for the public to believe that the police are taking the case itself seriously,they noted.(eom)