Daijiworld Media Network- Margao
Margao, Jan 30: A political storm has erupted in Goa following the abrupt transfer of South Goa superintendent of police (SP) Sunita Sawant. The Congress has alleged that the move was "politically motivated" as it came soon after she sought information regarding certain Bajrang Dal leaders in the district.
The state government has assigned additional charge of South Goa SP to Tikam Singh Verma, the current head of the Anti-Narcotics Cell. Sawant, who was appointed to the post in February 2024, was asked to relinquish charge through a wireless message late on Monday night. However, an official order for her transfer is yet to be issued.
Speaking on the matter, Sawant stated, “I do not know anything. I have performed my duties in a professional manner. I was asked to relinquish the charge and report at the headquarters, so I have done that. I have simply followed orders.”
State Congress president Amit Patkar slammed the BJP government over the transfer, alleging that it was an attempt to shield its ideological allies. “The moment the SP began collecting information about Bajrang Dal leaders in Goa, the government panicked and immediately transferred her. This clearly shows that the BJP is not interested in governance but in shielding its allies and suppressing officers who perform their duty with integrity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal’s Goa convenor Viraj Desai distanced the outfit from the controversy, stating, “Bajrang Dal’s name is being needlessly dragged into this. We are not concerned or involved in the departmental affairs of the police.”
The development comes just two days after Sawant was honored with a special recognition award by Goa governor P S Sreedharan Pillai for her role in ensuring security during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Last year, she was also selected for the president’s medal for distinguished service.
Sawant, an accomplished officer, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Dhempe College (1989). She briefly worked as a teacher before joining the police force as a sub-inspector in 1990. Over the years, she has handled several high-profile cases, including the sexual assault case against former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal. In 2014, she was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The Congress has accused the BJP of manipulating the police force for political gains. “This is nothing but an act of intimidation against an honest officer who was merely doing her job. The BJP government has once again exposed itself as an enabler of lawlessness, ensuring that no action is taken against fringe elements that threaten Goa’s communal harmony,” said Patkar.
He further questioned the government’s intent behind the transfer, stating, “What is the government trying to hide? Why is it afraid of a fair investigation into Bajrang Dal leaders? This transfer is proof that the law enforcement agencies in Goa are being used as mere puppets of the BJP to safeguard its false narrative.”
The BJP and the state government have not yet responded to these allegations.
The Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has been at the center of several controversies over the years. It played a key role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and was briefly banned following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. The organization has often been accused of harassing religious minorities on issues related to “illegal conversions” and “love jihad”.
With political tensions rising, all eyes are now on the state government’s response to the controversy surrounding SP Sunita Sawant’s sudden transfer.