By Marcellus D’Souza
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has asked the Chief Secretary, Goa to take action on the representation made by Floyd Floyd Coutinho, a Margao resident against former PI of Maina Curtorim Police Station and current DySP Sagar Ekoskar and others in an alleged harassment case with an intent to extort.
Floyd had filed a written complaint against Sagar Ekoskar and others including PSI Tejaskumar Naik, constables Dhiraj Naik and Rizwan Shaikh with the Prime Minister alleging that these policemen are harassing him and trying to falsely implicate him in a case in which he is not involved.
The PMO in a letter to the Goa Chief Secretary has asked that “appropriate action in the matter be taken”. The letter has been issued by Ashish Kumar Mishra, Section Officer in the PMO.
A representation was made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after several complaints against the then PI and present DySP Sagar Ekoskar at various police stations were made but no action against him was forthcoming.
Floyd Coutinho has urged the police authorities to conduct an inquiry against the said officer for unnecessarily harassing him and to hold a departmental inquiry is necessary. Couthinho has sent copies of his memorandum to the Director-General of Police, Chief Minister, Chairperson of Human Rights Commission and Governor. Floyd Coutinho had made a representation to the President of India and the Home Minister also urging for a departmental inquiry against Sagar Ekoskar into the case. The office of the President of India has also appointed an officer to inquire into the matter.
In his memorandum, Floyd Coutinho stated that he is not involved in any offence, however, the police were trying to tarnish his name, harassing him by pasting a notice on the door of his flat and also issuing lookout notices at the airport to stop him from entering Goa.
He alleged that the police officer and his team were trying to falsely implicate him in a case when he is not involved and this was being done due to some personal grudge against him.
Floyd Floyd Coutinho said his advocate has already sent a reply to the concerned police officer stating that at present he is abroad and would return to Goa and visit the police station.
He said some months ago he was called to the police station in connection with a case in which he is not involved and as a witness, his statement was recorded.
Floyd Floyd Coutinho had made representation to the South Goa Superintendent of Police alleging that Maina Curtorim police were harassing him and trying to falsely implicate him in a case in which he charged that the then PI Sagar Ekoskar has manipulated evidence and is trying to get him arrested for no rhyme or reason only to avenge his revenge and trying to frame him.
In March 2022, after locals alleged police brutalities during their protest against transportation of iron ore in Pissurlem, a farmers group met the director general of police (DGP) and demanded strict action against police officials for harassing them. In a memorandum submitted to the DGP, the farmers, under the banner of “Concerned Citizens of Goa”, demanded that the recent promotion of DySP Sagar Ekoskar be revoked and the officer be suspended until enquiries are conducted into his alleged alleged nexus with mining companies and his “abuse of powers in the recent assault on activist Hanumant Parab. The CCTV footage of the alleged beating went missing from the police station.
In December 2020, high drama unfolded at Honda, Sattari after Valpoi Police Inspector(PI) Sagar Ekoskar assaulted former Sarpanch and present panch of Honda Panchayat Suresh Madkar. “PI Sagar Ekoskar assaulted Madkar at the Honda Police Outpost and abused him with filthy words over a Non-Cognizable offence and took law in his own hands,” alleged locals. Hundreds of locals blocked the Honda-Valpoi road demanding suspension of PI. Large crowd also gathered outside the Honda Police outpost. The tension was diffused only after PI Sagar Ekoskar apologized for his action and DySP Gurudas Gawade assured of action against him.