In the past few days there has been a spate of robberies that have been reported in the state. Nine robbers entered a bungalow at Davorlim and stole valuables besides a car and a scooter. Then there was a theft case which took place at a bungalow in Seraulim. A theft case was also reported wherein four robbers entered the quarters of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) at Fatorda and looted gold ornaments, valuables and cash.
It is a known fact that a large number of police personnel have been deployed for duty at the ongoing exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier and the nine-day novenas ahead of the feast on December 3. In the past several days police personnel were also deployed for duty in the national capital during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The question to be asked is whether the robbers have taken advantage of the deployment of a large posse of police personnel for these mega functions? Is the slack in police patrolling in other parts of the state the reason for the spate of robberies that took place? Now that the film festival is over the police need to be posted at their original posting.
In future it would be in the fitness of things for the Goa government to requisition the service of the police from the neighbouring states when there are two or more mega functions taking place in the state simultaneously so that the police personnel from the Goa police can carry on with their duty at the original posting so that the robbers do not become active when there are fewer police personnel at the various police stations.
If such steps are being taken at the time of elections why not requisition the service of the police force from the neighbouring states besides the services of the Rapid Action Force, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Reserve Police (CRP) during such mega events when lakhs of people visit the state? Just as security of the people attending the mega events is of vital importance, also important is guarding the homes of the Goans from dacoity and robberies.
