MARGAO: This is actually called turning a blind eye. An infant was picked up from next to her sleeping mother from the platform of the Margao railway station, the CCVTV recorded the footage but by the time the railway police saw the footage, the kidnapper and his victim were gone for good.
The CCTV Footage of the kidnapping has been handed over to Konkan Railway Police for investigation and the accused is now absconding with the child.
The kidnapping case has raised several questions on to the safety of the innocent unsuspecting travellers from the Margao Railway Station. The people have begun questioning the use of the CCTV system at the station if it is not being monitored continuously.
The Convenor of Bailancho Ekvott NGO, Auda Viegas, has said that this incident exposes the underbelly of the law enforcement system and also shows that there is neither policing nor vigilance. “A person kidnaps a three-year-old innocent child under the watch of CCTVs, Railway Police Force and Konkan Railway Corporation Police. The child is now under the threat of being trafficked and the police have to necessarily find the perpetrator and rescue the child soon,” demanded Auda Viegas.
“There is a need to keep an eye on begging activity and has to be subjected to preventive action. The Herald has earlier exposed the illegal liquor trade and it may be still going on. This is an indicator that there is neither preventive action nor vigilance,” alleged Auda.
Auda has also said that sleeping on platforms between train changes is not the issue but protecting the people during this wait is mandatory.
The President of the Jai Damodar Association, Mahesh Nayak, said “The case shows that the CCTV is only to record the incidents and not to stop the incidents from happening. If there is no person to monitor the CCTV footage then it is failure,” he added.
It is learnt that a similar case has happened in the past wherein young children have gone missing but there is no logical conclusion to these cases till date.
The onus now lies on the authorities at Konkan railway station whether there is a need for more CCTVs or persons to monitor the activities on the CCTVs as the CCTV may capture the footage but it is for the police to capture the criminals.
