As per the complaint, the three men who fired the shots, stopped a car and claiming to be narcotics officers assaulted the complainant, threatened him with a firearm and then fired the shots. The police acted quickly and arrested the three men just hours later, but in the case of the sexual assault against a minor, the police constable who is accused is yet to be taken into custody.
There are two issues here, the increasing use of guns in crime in Goa and the violent behaviour of the police. Both need to be addressed.
It does appear that the gun culture that has seeped into Goa in recent years is gaining ground, when exactly the opposite should have been happening. In the past two years there have been a growing number of incidents where firearms have been used. In June 2020, a member of a gang was killed when shots were fired in the middle of the night in a residential area at St Cruz as gangs clashed. A couple of months later, in Margao a jeweller was shot and stabbed multiple times by a group of robbers. In February last year, again in Margao, notorious criminal Shaikh Anwar alias Tiger was shot by a rival gang in the middle of a busy road. Soon after in April, an argument between two business rivals led to one shooting at the other on the hand. Again in July, a man was shot at in Bogmalo in daylight crime and died later that night. In December last, people armed with guns and iron rods gathered outside a restaurant at Calangute, three rounds were fired and three persons were injured.
Goa Police needs to send strong message that the gun culture will not find a place in the State. Police action in arresting the perpetrators may have been quick, but when the cases go to court, there has to be substantial evidence to get a conviction. It is when the law enforcement acts sternly in such matters that crime will come under control. Ironically, a jail guard was held with narcotics that he was taking to the jail to supply to a prisoner. When law enforcers become law breakers, it sends the wrong message to criminal elements who then gain confidence.
Some months ago, Herald had in these columns predicted that there is a slow collapse of the law and order situation in Goa and that unless it is corrected immediately, would be difficult to reverse later. There is a direct correlation between increase in crime and police inaction. When the police hesitate to act against their colleague who has a criminal charge of sexual molestation against him, what message does this send? The message that the people are getting is that criminal elements in Goa are not afraid of the police. This perception has to be corrected and it can be done when the police are seen to act without fear or favour, especially when it comes to dealing with the violent behaviour of their own colleagues.
Illegalities abound across the State. It is not just guns and violence that is increasing, but in recent times there have also been instances of land being usurped. Crime has to be dealt with swiftly and sternly, only then will there be a positive change. All law enforcement agencies must raise their efficiency to put the brakes on lawlessness. Unless there are such concerted efforts, crime will continue to rise.
