Prabhakar Sinari

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Prabhakar Vitthal Prabhu Sinari, born on 23 November 1928 in Ribandar, Goa, was a Indian freedom fighter and a senior police and security official. He helped end Portuguese rule in Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and was a founding member of the Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD).

From a young age, Sinari joined the Goa freedom movement, participating in protests and rallies. He and his brothers Purushottam and Dinkar were active in the struggle. He studied to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and became known for leading guerrilla actions. Because of his bold leadership, he was nicknamed the “Che Guevara of Goa.”

Sinari was arrested several times and tortured by Portuguese authorities. In October 1952, he escaped from the Panaji jail after many hardships and crossed into India. He then led the AGD’s Northern Command, organizing attacks and other operations against Portuguese forces. Notable actions included dynamiting Shirgaon mines in 1955 and coordinated attacks on police outposts in 1956–57. The Portuguese placed a large bounty on him, dead or alive.

After Goa’s liberation, Sinari was awarded the Tamrapatra by the Indian government. He became Goa’s first Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, eventually serving as Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Goa. He later joined the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) as its assistant director, helping protect Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and contributing to the fight against Punjab insurgency.

In 2017, Sinari published From Darkness to Dawn, detailing his 16 years in the Goa Liberation Movement. He remained active in public service, and in 2020 a photo panel about his life was installed at the Goa Police GRP camp. He is married to Vilasini and has lived in Caranzalem.