The fair name of Goa has been tarnished by crime for some time now. In today’s year ender, Herald reviews the crime scene in 2013 and how it fared with the change of government.
VIBHA VERMA
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: To say that the crime situation in the state in 2013 was tumultuous would be an euphemism. The BJP government was voted into office with high expectations, riding on the anger against the previous Congress led government where law and order was at its nadir. However, despite a few notable exceptions, one being the Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case where action was prompt yet perceived with guarded suspicion –progress in other cases has been slow. This has been highlighted by the vicious mob attack on a ruling BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh, on an open road pointing to the fact that there is still no fear of the law among the lawless.
More alarmingly, there have been instances that senior elected representatives themselves have targeted policemen for doing their duty from public platforms sending a signal that there is no need to fear the law or take the police seriously.
While there are so many cases pending or unsolved including high profile cases pertaining to murder, drug offences and the sensational rape of a Vasco schoolgirl in school toilet, the case of Tehelka honcho Tarun Tejpal hit the headlines and police showing unseen zeal in hounding the journalist and scrambling to get the witnesses to solve the case.
The Nigerians rioting on National highway 17 at Porvorim on October 31 to highlight the brutal murder of their compatriot Obado Uzoma Simeon in Parra village and subsequent police inaction made the state look up with alarm. The police arrest of Nigerians and the ouster of all coloured persons by locals triggered a diplomatic row between Nigerian and Indian governments for all the wrong reasons. The actual reason for the rioting, the drug related gang fights, political and police patronage as alleged by the Nigerians were put on the backburner.
The sexual assault of a seven year-old-student at Vasco on January 14 morning during the recess time when students were playing on the playground sparked a huge public outcry. In this case, the accused dared to enter the school without being stopped by the security. State police formed a 15-member special investigation team (SIT) to trace the accused but later handed the case to Central Bureau of Investigation after the police failed to crack the case. Ironically, the CBI is also still groping in the dark. The incident will complete one year shortly and the criminal is still at large and parents still seeking justice for their daughter.
Another case of a minor being raped in Salcete and requiring an operation a la the Nirbaya case in Delhi has completely escaped the media attention and the status is still uncertain.
The State was also rattled by the news when on January 18, the nude body of a woman with her head smashed was found in the think jungles at Assagao. She was identified as Rekha Kharat (19), a native of Ratnagiri. The police accused one Ranjit Tuenkar, supposedly a history sheeter in the case. But till date there has been no progress.
Incidentally, he was earlier arrested in connection with a drug offence, a revelation that was made by Home Minister Manohar Parrikar during the budget session of the State Legislative Assembly.
The NDPS Court notice pasted on the wall of the house seeking his presence before it on May 4, 2013 in connection with drug peddling case is the only sign of recent activity.
Goa has also been the playground for various fugitives from the law and has even been witness to supari killings like the murder of a businessman Hasan Khan in March.
This case was solved after Agassaim police caught suspended draftsman of Directorate of Mines and Geology Robert Gonsalves, and his accomplice – contractor Raj Patel alias Abhinandan Kumar both of whom confessed to the murder plan and disclosed names of four killers they had hired for this purpose. The four were subsequently arrested from Kolhapur and Belgaum where they were hiding after committing the crime. The gruesome Merces double murder and attempt to murder their two children also drew public outrage in May.
The overall crime situation in the State did not instil much confidence in locals as well as tourists, signalling that the State has to get its act together on security of common people.
