TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: With police unable to solve a number of theft cases reported on Divar Island in the last few months, the Sao Mathias Panchayat at the gram sabha on Sunday decided to take up tenant verification on their own.
Sarpanch Rohidas Bhomkar told the gram sabha members that the panchayat has prepared a tenant verification form which will be given to all the seven panchas. “The form has to be filled up the villagers who have tenants residing in their houses, giving complete details as prescribed in the tenant verification form,” informed Bhomkar.
It may be recalled that a number of theft cases have been reported in Divar Island in the last few months, but the police have reportedly been unable to identify the culprits.
“Since the rent from tenants is taken by the owner, I would like the owner to cooperate with us. The panchayat has given a one month’s time for all the house owners to fill the form with a photo of the members staying as tenants,” said Bhomkar.
“The panchayat will later give a copy of the form to Old Goa Police to keep a check on certain tenants’ records,” he added.
According to panchayat officials, the Sao Mathais Panchayat has over 3,000 voters with over 600 houses in its jurisdiction.
“If the house owners from our jurisdiction do not cooperate with us, then we will not take any responsibility if any untoward incident takes place. Since police has not taken any action as far as tenant verifications are concerned in the village, the panchayat has come forward to do tenant verification in Sao Mathias village,” said Bhomkar.
