Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa
Mapusa, Nov 9: The alleged sexual assault of a two-year-old girl in Mapusa on Diwali evening has sparked widespread outrage, with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar demanding swift justice, stronger child protection measures and accountability from the state government.
The child, whose family is engaged in balloon selling, was allegedly abducted and taken to a dilapidated building near Lohia Garden on Sunday evening. The family had reportedly brought her to the Mapusa market for Diwali.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident came to light when the child was found crying and without clothes outside the abandoned building near the taxi stand. A passerby rushed to help her, following which local residents alerted the police.
The child was initially taken to Mapusa District Hospital and later shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) for further treatment. Her condition was initially reported to be critical, though police officials subsequently said she was stable.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta visited the spot on Sunday evening and said an investigation had been launched to identify and apprehend the accused. Mapusa Police are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to establish the sequence of events and trace the person responsible.
Reacting to the incident, Alemao expressed shock and urged the government to ensure the best possible medical treatment, counselling and support for the child and her family, while strictly protecting her identity.
He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for a time-bound investigation followed by a fast-track trial. "The perpetrators must be caught immediately and should face swift justice through a time-bound investigation and a fast-track trial. No delay, no leniency," he said.
Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2024, Alemao claimed Goa recorded 13.3 rape and child sexual abuse cases per lakh population, the highest among states and more than three times the national average. He further claimed that over 61 per cent of the survivors were children.
He also raised concerns over the conviction rate in crimes against women, which he put at 9.4 per cent, claiming that more than 91 per cent of cases remained pending. He demanded additional fast-track courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, stronger policing and a time-bound plan to improve child safety.
Alemao said the Opposition would continue to pursue the matter until justice was delivered.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar also condemned the alleged assault and questioned why preventive measures had not been taken despite repeated concerns about activities in and around the abandoned building near Lohia Garden.
He said the alleged crime had raised serious questions about children's safety in the heart of Mapusa. Chodankar pointed to reported concerns raised by residents and media organisations about prostitution, drug abuse and other alleged illegal activities in the vicinity.
Questioning why the building had been allowed to remain an unsafe location despite these concerns, Chodankar held the government accountable for ensuring public safety.
Addressing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, he said, "This is a serious failure of your Home Department's responsibility to protect our children."
Chodankar demanded an immediate, impartial and time-bound investigation, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and an inquiry into any possible negligence by the police or other authorities.
He also called for the child to receive comprehensive medical treatment, psychological support, protection and rehabilitation, while ensuring that her identity and dignity remained safeguarded.
"If a four-year-old child is not safe in the heart of Mapusa, what assurance of safety can your government give to the people of Goa?" he asked.
"This is not merely about one horrific incident. It is about the responsibility of a government that must protect every child, every woman and every citizen. The little angel deserves justice. Her parents deserve answers. Goa deserves accountability," Chodankar said, adding that he would ensure the matter was not forgotten.