Crime tarnishes
image of State
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A tourist from Andhra Pradesh was killed after he and his group of friends were brutally assaulted at a prominent beach shack in Calangute by the owners and non-Goan workers of the same shack after a dispute over placing a food order escalated into a violent confrontation.
This shocking incident has sent shock waves across Goa and has indeed shown that hospitality trade and it’s players in the state are no more hospitable. Well, the reason why Goa has turned into an unsafe and dangerous place for tourists today then that’s because the tourism industry has been slowly taken over and run by some unprofessional notorious people from our neighbouring states.
Hordes of rowdy domestic tourists are often attracted to cheap booze, drugs, sex workers and the non-Goan workers who are hired in most shacks are not trained on how to handle during most crucial difficult situations (especially during the peak season of Christmas/New Year), such unfortunate ugly incidents will continue to happen and keep maligning the image of brand Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
High detection but
low conviction rate
Goa police on Tuesday said they achieved a 96.6% detection rate in heinous crime cases while around 88% in overall cases in 2024. A total of 2,096 cases were registered under the Indian Penal Code. However in all, only 250 persons were convicted till Oct 2024. Police have achieved a 35% detection rate for cybercrime offences, with 18 out of 56 cases solved and 45 arrests made. Police have also seized Rs 9.81 crore worth of drugs in 2024. However the conviction rate does not compare well with the detection rate. As per statistics conviction rate in India is 57%. However Goa is on a lower side, with a conviction rate reportedly of 19.8 which is the sixth lowest in the country and needs to improve.
It is learnt that the low conviction rate in the state is due to lack of in-depth and scientific investigation, hostile witnesses and long duration of trials. In addition to this, the pendency of cases waiting for trial is well above 90 per cent. It is understood that NDPS cases are dismissed as investigators don’t follow the procedure mandated in attachment of the seized drugs. Obviously the evidence collected from the crime scene is the most important factor for securing a conviction in the court of law. Public prosecutors cannot be blamed for the low conviction rate. It is for the police to independently collect evidence which will ensure conviction in the court of law.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Deafening music
and sleepless nights
While congratulating the O Heraldo for its relentless campaign against loud music in the coastal belt in North Goa, it is really shameful to read that the police who are apparently the law enforcing agencies prefer to hear no evil.
The ear-blasting trans music played in Morjim and Anjuna from dusk to dawn can be heard right upto Siolim at nights and even rattles window panes. If this is the state of a village that is almost nine kilometres away from the two villages, one wonders as to what the fate of the residents there will be. The issue has always been debated at gram sabhas but nothing has happened till date. It sad that it situations like these, neither the children can study nor senior citizens sleep in peace.
There are strict High Court and Supreme Court guidelines in the matter but the Anjuna and Pernem Police have been taking things very lightly. There were times when were cops were suspended for dereliction of duty if music was played beyond the stipulated time. Today things are different. The Goa police seem to have become insensitive to human sufferings and violation of the law. They will definitely not act as long as they are politically protected. Transfers to the coastal belt, it is alleged comes at a price and what will happen to the rule of law is anybody’s guess.
Night club owners with Delhi connections give a dam to the law in Goa as long as they have protection coming right from the top.
One can only assume that if they sound violations take place beyond the stipulated time then either the cops are deaf or their palms are lubricated well.
Santana Sousa, Siolim
Stress management
needed for students
The “coaching capital” of India, Rajasthan’s Kota is again in the news but this time for the right reasons. Or so it seems as the district collector has said that there was a “50 percent reduction in student suicides in 2024 as compared to 2023”. Although the official figure is not available, an unconfirmed report says 17 students committed suicide in 2024 while the corresponding number in 2023 was 26.
“Gatekeeper training” to all hostel wardens has been the topmost initiative of the district administration. In this, wardens are trained to recognise suicide warning signs and identify those who may be at immediate as well as late risk as per the standard WHO guidelines. Frequent interaction of the administration with the students may also have helped.
As is known, there is no real substitute for systematic counselling to spot and treat suicidal tendencies. All important measures undertaken by the district authorities at Kota essentially involves counselling, and this requires to be sustained throughout. Students have to be engaged in more and more stress management programmes. Inability to cope up with expectation and competition is the primary factor that is responsible for the spate of student suicides.
Ganapathi Bhat,
Akola
Hatemongers must
tread path of light
The past resembled dark age of “Might is Right” where neither was there any concept of nation nor law.
Present resembles (at least theoretically) an era of law Judiciary Constitution which also speaks of secularism in this heterogeneous country of all.
It is high time the hatemongers learn to walk ahead on the path of light and modernity instead of going back to the muscle-flexing dark medieval age with the goal of “rewriting history” by “discovering” temples under perhaps all Islamic sites!
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkatta
Chennai – free
from floods?
It is really shocking and shattering to read the statement of Madras High Court that inaction, omission and corruption of TN State Govt are the reasons for Chennai floods. Though the DMK Govt continues to boast that the Chennai City will be free of floods during this monsoon season, the reality was disappointing. If only the government had given importance to finish the drainage work, rather than the construction of Formula Car race tracks, we could have experienced a flood free Chennai. Very rightly the Madras High Court has pointed out the deficiencies of TN State Govt. We sincerely hope that at least during this New Year 2025, the State Govt would concentrate on completion of drainage work to make Chennai City free from floods.
N Mahadevan, Chennai
