Goa's private police bill incurs Gupta's wrath

The Goa government is under fire from the Centre for giving policing powers to private agencies.

Following objections raised by the state unit of the Communist Party of India, Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta took up the issue with the state government. He agreed with the contention of local CPI leader Christopher Fonseca that the auxiliary police would be used mainly by the big companies to crush workers' struggles. ''Such a provision should be opposed tooth and nail by all Goans. Build a state-wide movement against it before the President of India gives his assent,'' he appealed to the locals while addressing the May Day rally last week.

Gupta said he was not satisfied with the discussion he had with Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane. ''If Goa is the most peaceful state, as Rane claimed, why does it need such an auxiliary police force?'' he asked.

The home minister said it should be clearly mentioned that the auxiliary police would not be used to suppress peoples's struggles including the trade union movement.

While adopting certain provisions of the Singapore Police Act, the state assembly recently passed a bill making provisions for the appointment of auxiliary and honorary police by any company or statutory body.

Fonseca fears anti-worker gangs operating in the state, including one allegedly led by South Goa MP Churchill Alemao, would be the first to get such a police force.

Former state inspector general of police Prabhakar Sinari has also opposed the provision. ''No police powers of arrest should be given to private security and detectives agencies as it would be abused in various ways, creating confusion in the public mind,'' he said.