VASCO: While the Goa police is on a massive and absolutely correct drive to weed out prostitution and drugs, it allows gambling to flourish literally in front of its police stations.
Herald has done this before and has done it again. We decided to simply barge in and raid one of the dens where suspected gambling activity in Vasco town was going on. This was after a week-long surveillance where other such dens were identified. We did this because from Sattari to Bardez to Mormugao, gambling takes place, literally in the open. And while this illegality flourishes with full police knowledge and protection, families get destroyed as their men, many of them government servants, spend most of their earnings in gambling destroying families.
The HIT (Herald Investigation Team) staked out a gambling club at the jetty in Mormugao which is located right adjacent to the main road leading to headland Sada. As soon as HIT entered the gambling den late on Wednesday evening, the players suiting on the floor with cards and cash froze. When they saw the HIT clicking pictures the players present inside the club room started running helter shelter as if a bomb exploded. Except for two persons who claimed that they have been running the show and they had started the activity only few days ago, others vacated the room and disappeared from the scene. Those who stayed back, ‘requested’ Team Herald to pardon them as they were not aware that ‘PAT’ game is illegal.
Before conducting a raid at one such club, the HIT sent a decoy to all these clubs and found that, most of these clubs operate from small shops or flats where people from all section of society come to gamble.
A gambling den is a great leveller. From labourers to employees working prestigious central government institutions, gamble together and play the game of chance, often playing away their futures. HIT found that some addicted gamblers come to their favourite gambling clubs almost every day before they go home.
Interestingly a club located in the heart of city even offers food and beverages to the regular players. We understand. A good gambler cannot stay hungry and thirsty.
After the ‘raid’, Team Herald met PI Mormugao Kapil Naik to know whether he has any clue that this club is under operation under his jurisdiction. His reply was negative, he said “I have no idea that someone is operating a gambling den at the jetty. I have given clear directions to my officers and staff to maintain strict vigil on such activities and take action against the people involved. As the matter has now been brought to my notice, I would surely inquire and if there is anyone involved, action would be initiated as per law” he maintained.
As a responsible publication, Herald took the pictures it clicked at the gambling den and met the Sub Divisional Police Office (SDPO) Vasco, DySP Suchita Desai. Looking at the pictures taken by Herald; she said “I am surprised that such activities have been taking place. I will ask the concerned PI to explain as we are not going to tolerate such operations of gambling dens”.
The connivance of a section of the local police is absolutely obvious. But it’s a racket which has many stakeholders. The role of the owners of these premises and the type of rent agreement they have with those who run these gambling dens need to be investigated. If gambling dens can be run in the middle of busy places including markets, what is the guarantee that there aren’t safe houses in Vasco, storing weapons and ammunition, and who knows, even housing terrorists? After all it is all about surveillance or the abject lack of it.
