PANAJI: It was an unusual day at police stations across Goa on Saturday, as the Samadhan public outreach initiative kicked off. From neighbourhood fights to cheating and minor property disputes, Goa police witnessed over 100 ‘petty’ complaints, in which citizens got a sympathetic and patient ear, as well as advice, from the men in uniform.
The initiative was launched by director general of police Jaspal Singh, and the DGP himself visited two police stations — Porvorim and Mapusa — to hear complaints. At Porvorim, for instance, two neighbours approached the police over some sewage release.
After hearing them out, Singh directed personnel to inspect the site and resolve the issue, and asked for a detailed report in two days.
The initiative mainly involves minor cases that police try to resolve before they reach the stage of registration of offence. Police personnel try to counsel the factions to amicably resolve issues at the primary stage itself, so that they do not end up going to court.
Henceforth, every Saturday, SDPOs (sub-divisional police officers, at the level of deputy SP) will be present at police stations to give citizens a patient hearing.
Singh said that in around 70% of the cases, the complaints didn’t require case registration, but were resolved through positive intervention.
SP Shobhit Saxena said that all police stations will maintain a register and through alternate dispute resolution, matters will be resolved.
In Ponda, two neighbours approached police over a money-lending issue. One man said that he had given money to his neighbour and he failed to return it. He said the neighbour returned the money in the form of a cheque which bounced. He said that he has filed a case in court. Ponda police advised him to get necessary directions from court, and that they would help him recover the money.
A person approached Margao police station to complain that his wife took his two children to the US. Police heard the aggrieved person and advised him to approach the appropriate court.
