Anwar Shaikh alias ‘Tiger Anwar’, with 26 criminal cases against him, has been killed. The murder did not occur in Goa but the man was wanted in a number of cases in the State and in February this year there had been an attempt on his life, when he had been attacked at Fatorda, shot at on the leg but he escaped due to the timely arrival of the police at the shootout site who rushed him to hospital. Weeks later, Anwar who was out on bail, had released a video stating that he wanted to reform and lead a crime-free life. Months after this, the investigation of the killing indicate that Anwar had not cut off from crime completely as evidence points that the murder arose from rivalry in his home town in Karwar.
In Goa, Anwar was the subject of many investigations. Besides the cases registered against him, a year ago Anwar had come into the news again for a video that had been filmed in Colvale Jail and been sent forward on social media, where he was seen moving around the jail premises with his ‘followers’ surrounding him. Special treatment in the jail for him was obvious in the videos that circulated on social media. For one, cell phones are not allowed in the jail, but apparently this did not stop the video from being taken. An inquiry on the incident had been ordered and the report presented to the government, but no action had yet been taken on the jail personnel, though the report had found lapses on the part of a number of the gaol staff.
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Anwar next came into the news, following the attack on his life in Fatorda early this year. Six months later, in another attack he was killed. Though the murder occurred in Karwar, it once again shifts the focus on gang war in Goa and in the past 14 months there have been at least two instances of gang rivals attacking each other in the State. One, already mentioned is where Anwar was attacked in Fatorda, but in June last year there was a late-night shootout in St Cruz that had left one person dead from a bullet wound. In the past few months, guns have also been used in other crimes, the most recent last month where a man was killed in Mormugao taluka.
The State government cannot remain indifferent to the gang culture that is making a return in the State and to the use of guns. After a series of gang skirmishes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially in St Cruz area, Goa had had a relatively peaceful time, but there is all evidence of gang rivalry returning in the State. And just what are the law enforcement agencies of the State doing? This killing may have occurred outside the State, but Goa Police have to crack down on organised crime. What was seen in the killing of Tiger Anwar is a crude form of ‘justice’ being delivered by criminal elements, it shouldn’t be repeated in Goa.
There can be no place for gang culture in Goa, but unfortunately gangs do exist. Mere statements by the Goa Police and the government of ‘zero tolerance to guns and gang culture’ will not suffice, it is action that is required to permanently end this. Gangs will exist as long as there is no fear of the law. That fear can come only through concerted action by the law enforcement authorities. The aim should be simple to end the gang culture in the State. All it requires is political will. If strong action is not initiated right away, stopping gang culture from progressing will turn more difficult.
