For the last many years, the areas near the link road along the Sodiem-Marna road have turned into booze party zones for miscreants. The whole day you notice anti-social elements, drug peddlers selling banned substances in the open to youth and school going children. The issue has been constantly discussed at the gram sabhas of Siolim Marna and Siolim Sodiem village panchayats. Youth drink like fish and dump beer and liquor bottles all over the place. Often there are terrible fights break out in the area and the neighbours around live in constant fear of being attacked. It is sad to see that intoxicated youth often abuse school kids in uniform and neither have shame nor the fear of law. At times, the booze parties go on till late at nights disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the place. The police who are otherwise aware of everything around prefer to see no evil and neither raid the place. And less said the better about the LIB or intelligence bureau of the Mapusa and Anjuna police. The Tillari Irrigation canal road is another place where drug trade goes on full swing.
The link road is mostly used by women and students who travel by bus and prefer to take the short cut home. Often they are preyed and pounced upon but victms prefer to keep quiet and bear the pain in shame. Does this government really care for the safety of its citizens? Or are we waiting for someone to be murdered here?
Are the panchayats only concerned with development and issuing construction licences that they have no time to spare for the safety of its citizens?
Time the authorities wake up from slumber and act with an iron hand before it is too late. Last but not the least wiill the PIs of Mapusa and Anjuna led by the DySP stage a flag march here to keep antisocial elements at bay? Let better counsel prevail.
