OPERATION: POLLEM AND MOLLEM
It is not as difficult as one might think to smuggle contraband substances or ammunition into Goa. It’s almost as easy as trying to smuggle cheap liquor or petrol out of the state through the porous borders. What is even more shocking is the fact that one doesn’t need to wait for the cover of the night to carry on the trafficking. The southern and eastern borders are unmanned even during the day, which leaves the state at the mercy of one lone home guard.
A Herald investigation proved the fact and exposed the brutal truth behind the unmanned borders, including Pollem in the South and Mollem in the East.
The Herald Investigation Team (HIT), for this project, arranged for a rifle sized ‘air gun’, some mangoes (made to look like explosives) and talcum powder (to resemble white narcotic drugs) and reached Pollem border check-post on Thursday morning at around 10.05 am. Surprisingly, three men dressed in khaki were standing near the check post but the broken border gate and the arm barrier (the anti-terror road blocker) were left open to allow vehicles to pass, unchecked.
When the HIT got close enough to the personnel, it was alarming to note that out of four persons standing near the border, two were from the Goa excise department and the lone home guard was actually manning the check post on behalf of the police.
Border petrol did not stop car carrying contraband items
The HIT crossed the border to see whether the border patrol would stop the car carrying dummy contraband items. None of the guards even peeped into the car. The next phase of the investigation was to check whether they would stop the vehicle while entering the state with the dummy illegal items.
As per plans, our photojournalist got off from the car and hitched a ride by a two wheeler to the Karnataka side and re-enter Goa in order to get photographic evidence of the movement of our car into the state. The police just didn’t bother. Our car carrying an airgun, (which could have been an AK-56) talcum powder (which could have been cocaine) and mangoes in a box which could have been explosives, actually crossed the border twice.
When Herald asked a few questions
HIT decided to confront the policemen stationed at the post to find out how many are deployed at the outpost and why was there is no security check taking place at the border. Home guard, Jagdish Gaonkar was the first to appear and said, “We have four constables and one home guard sanctioned at the police outpost. By rule, there has to be at least two people at the gate, including a home guard and a constable. The constable in charge, Vinayak Naik just left the post to have tea and will be back shortly.”
To no surprise, the news of the presence of media at the outpost spread like wild fire and ten minutes later, constable Vinayak Naik appeared at the site. He was followed by another constable, Sainath Naik. Both of them began to say that as they are on duty for 24 hours, they sometimes go to take rest. The HIT questioned about their mode of action in case of armed terrorists entering the state to which he said, “We don’t have guns. They’re allotted only during drills or police nakabandi. However, as a routine exercise, we have been conducting random checks on vehicles entering and leaving the state.”
They were questioned about the condition of the CCTV cameras at the spot and they confirmed that the system was in place and in working condition and that they use it to keep track of vehicle movements. When the HIT insisted on seeing the footage, they said, “Actually, the camera was working till yesterday but due to the sudden rains, the system developed some technical faults and thus all the cameras aren’t functioning.”
The HIT decided to cross check with Canacona police station as to whether they have any information on the defunct CCTV system and non-availability of guns for policemen on duty. “Yes, the CCTV cameras have not been working for the last month and we have put in a request for repairs. With regard to ammunition, the outpost at Pollem has been provided with one rifle and the policeman on duty has to compulsorily remain with the weapon at all times,” PSI Sagar Dhatkar told a shocked HIT.
NEXT STOP: CHECK POST AT MOLLEM
Carrying on with the investigation, the HIT travelled to Goa’s eastern border check post at Mollem and reached at about 2pm. The first sight sent shockwaves as there was not even one policeman or home guard at the check post.
As decided, the HIT crossed the border and returned with the dummy contraband items without any bother. Like at Pollem, the HIT confronted the policemen at the outpost, a little distance away from the check-post and asked why a sensitive check post wasn’t left unmanned
The policemen here too began giving vague replies. Navnath Gawas, a police constable said, “We have four staff including 3 police constables, one head constable and one home guard. Today is my first day here and we are always alert which discharging our duties at the check post. I came inside to receive a phone call on the landline.”
As per records obtained by Pollem police outpost staff, over 5000 four wheelers, 1000 heavy vehicles and a large number of two wheelers cross the border daily, out of which not more than 20 are checked. Similarly, Mollem police informed that about 1000 heavy vehicles, 2000 four wheelers and over 1500 two wheelers cross the border daily. However, they do not keep a record of the vehicles checked by them.
It is a sorry state of affairs at the borders as the Goa police, who claim that security in the state is up to the mark, fail to secure our borders efficiently, thus giving intruders an open invitation.
This it time it was Herald doing a job in public interest. But what if terrorists manage to move in with ammunition from across our borders, Goa has absolutely no defence.
