25 Oct 2020  |   05:15am IST

‘Our detection rate is 93.21%, higher than national avg’

With the law and order incidents on the rise and that too the type that Goans did not think would occur in their State, which they considered to be safe, VIBHA VERMA speaks to MAHESH GAONKAR, Superintendent of Police about the prevailing situation. The Goa Police PRO stressed that one has to also appreciate the swift action taken by the police in solving these cases and making arrests as well as the sound intelligence network they have developed. He also addresses concerns about the perception of porous borders, hike in crime during the tourism season and what the police have been doing to take down criminals, whose actions indicate that they have scant respect or fear for the authorities given the brazen nature of their wrongdoings

VIBHA VERMA

HERALD: The law and order situation in Goa, in the past couple of weeks, has been under question owing to several cases including the recent burning incident at Torda. Where has Goa Police failed to uphold law and order?

MAHESH GAONKAR: Sometimes frustrated criminals succeed in executing their plans and commit crimes. In the present case also, we realize that it’s a pre-planned crime, however we also need to appreciate the swift action and professional approach of Goa Police in cracking the blind case and arresting most of the accused involved.

Our detection rate till October 22, 2020 is 93.21 percent, which is far above the national average. Twenty murder cases and 20 attempted murder cases have been detected, whereas out of 45 rape cases, 43 are detected, most of them have already been chargsheeted, whereas in only two cases the police are on the trail to arrest the accused. 

HERALD: Questions have also been raised over porous borders into Torda murders, despite police claiming strict vigilance.

GAONKAR: It was a Goa registered vehicle, in which the accused had fled. We mostly check the documents of the driver and vehicle while they cross the borders. The accused might have fled at a time when it was not known that they were the murderers. We are verifying their criminal antecedents and past records.

HERALD:  Several cases including the rave parties and IPL betting saw involvement of tourists. While these cases were before the actual onset of the tourist season, the State has now welcomed a six-month long season. What would be the strategy to ensure tourists are not a nuisance to Goa?

GAONKAR:  It has to be appreciated that Police have been arresting these criminals. In majority cases, non-Goans posing as tourists book hotels and carry out such type of illegal activities behind closed doors. Our accurate intelligence inputs and pro-active policing has led to busting of these rackets. We have booked nearly half a dozen cricket betting cases.

We are also keeping a thorough check on the movements of people within the State. We track those with suspicious behaviour. Once information is collected and then verified, we conduct the raid. Since tourists’ influx is picking up, we are gradually intensifying patrolling as well.

HERALD: The recent past also saw raids on premises where drugs were grown. Is Goa becoming a source destination?

GAONKAR:  We have raided 10 such premises till date, where cannabis was grown in vases and pots in residential houses and roof terraces. It is difficult to identify as these are grown in a covered space but we have been successfully identifying and booking these cases.

HERALD: What have been the steps taken to curb Goa's image from drug tourism destination to clean tourism?

GAONKAR: Goa has always been on the top position as a tourist destination in the world and it is one of the safest places. I don’t think booking cases will give adverse publicity to Goa. Moreover it marks the alertness of Police. There are some visitors who have odd ideas and behave illogically. In the majority of the cases we find people involved in the offenses and drug trade are from other states and work under cover.

We have achieved good breakthroughs into drug-related offenses. Last year till October 22, 2020; the total value of the seized drugs was Rs 2.11 crore approx which has increased three times during the corresponding period this year at Rs 6.16 crore approx.