The unfortunate irony of the nature of our governance is that less than two days since we ran stories of how Herald took law into its own hands, we are being asked “what next”. Will this menace of liquor gangs running riot at Margao end? Are the kingpins behind bars or do they roam free? Has the Excise Department stepped in to even ask Herald what it has found during the course of investigation which they can find useful? Was it waiting for Monday to happen when the babus would arrive in office and send a typed letter (in triplicate mind you) asking for more information.
We have indeed done the work of citizens. And we now want to join the investigation, monitor it and report back to the people of Goa if it’s not happening the way it should. Can’t the police wake up now and take this forward? Actually they can’t because there is too much at stake. Will they do an honest probe when the results of that probe will point to officers and men who have been on the take? Or else how do you explain at least four gangs operating at Margao for years, smuggling, loading and transporting liquor on out bound trains, with the Konkan Railway police station less than 100 meters from the Margao station.
If Herald could probe, follow and catch the main kingpin is just over a week, why could the police not do it in years? And why can’t they do it now. Or do they want Herald to catch all of them and present them before the PI for him to release them again. Our little experience has convinced us that we may figure out most things in life in Goa, but figuring out the ways of the Goa (or in this case the Konkan Railway police) is a Himalayan challenge.
But in the spirit of true Herald-ship and on behalf of the people of Goa, who we have to answer to, we present a blueprint of the way forward.
a) Pro-actively swoop down on the gangs, and the police know all of them. When liquor mafia kingpin Pradeep Pandey was nabbed and produced at the Railway police station, in walked a constable who had no idea what had happened. He looked at Pandey sitting on the floor and quipped in hindi, “Arre Pandey, tum yahan kar rahen ho” (Arre Pandey, what are you doing here?). He spoke as if he had seen a long lost buddy who had suddenly dropped in. Please note that even without Pandey saying a word, the constable addressed him in Hindi, which is Pandey’s mother tongue. Do you need any more evidence of the nexus?
b) The PI was completely red-faced as he had told the Herald reporters two minutes before that they had no idea that liquor smuggling gangs were operating under their very noses. Talk of wrong timing for the cops and great timing for Herald. Pandey as, Railway PRO Baban Ghatge said has been arrested twice before by the Railway Protection Force, Yet PI Santosh Desai whose act of feigned ignorance has been exposed continued to maintain that he was “unaware of these activities”.
c) Secondly the Excise and FDA should complete the tests of the seized liquor and slap fresh charges if the liquor is found to be spurious
d) The Excise Department should raid all the liquor shops, especially the ones, Herald has information about, which supply to the smuggler gangs
e) And lastly, but most importantly investigate the almost certain nexus between the Railway police and the gangs and start proceedings against police men who allow thousands of bottles to be freely loaded onto three to four trains daily
f) The same process should be followed for Konkan Railway staff, who literally change clothes to transform themselves as liquor sellers, making more money than what the government pays them to serve the nation.
We do not know when and if the above will happen. But we can humbly tell you that Herald will keep policing.
