Barely a week after the brutal dacoity at Baina, Goa has been jolted yet again — this time by a daring late-night attempt by an armed gang to break into a jewellery shop in Chaudi, Canacona. The attempted break-in occurred around 2.30 am, on Tuesday, when a group of 6–8 burglars targeted S M Jewellers, owned by the fam ily of Pravin Vernekar, whose home is attached to the shop. Ironically, the spot is barely a kilometre from the Canacona police station and adjacent to the Canacona Municipal Council building — a detail that has further rattled residents. Police said the gang first immobilised the family by tying the main door of the house from the outside with rope, ensuring no one could step out or intervene. To cripple surveillance, the gang sprayed black paint on at least three CCTV cameras before attempting to break into the shop. Armed with iron rods, a pickaxe and crowbars, the dacoits allegedly broke the lock and had begun lifting the shutter when the noise jolt ed Vernekar awake. Trapped inside his own home, he im mediately alerted the police but could not exit due to the barricaded door. Two patrolling police men, who happened to be in the vicinity, heard the commotion and rushed to the spot. On seeing the approaching officers, the gang reacted with unset tling aggression — pelting stones at them to create an opportunity to flee into the darkness. The officers then freed the Vernekar family by untying the rope used to lock them inside. At the crime scene, police recovered an iron rod (paroi), a pickaxe, spray paint canisters and empty lunch boxes, in dicating that the gang arrived well-prepared. A massive search operation was launched across the railway station, KTC bus stand and all major exit points, including the Polem border checkpost. However, no arrests have been made so far. The Canacona attack is not an isolated incident but part of a string of violent robbery attempts that have shaken the State over the past few months – Recent cases of burglaries in Mapusa, Dona Paula, Fatorda, Borda and Baina have fur ther compounded fears of an organised criminal network operating with increasing confidence — and little fear of consequence. The back-to-back incidents have prompted sharp criti cism of the Goa Police from political leaders and civil so ciety. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai led the charge, criticising the police for failing to nab the culprits involved in the Baina dacoity case. Speaking to reporters, he said “the Goa Police have become a laughing stock. Goa is now being ruled by gangsters,” Sardesai said. “The question is whether there is any police in Goa or not. Goons are running the government. Have any arrests been made? No. Only small fish are being caught. Nakabandis are con ducted with police holding AK-47s, but the real criminals remain free.” Former Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao also con demned the Canacona incident, calling the stone-pelting attack on police personnel “unacceptable and deeply wor rying.” “What can I say? It appears that dacoits are a step ahead of the police. This is very wrong, a condemnable in cident,” he said, urging the authorities to take strict action. Madgaocho Awaaz leader Prabhav Naik expressed fear over what he described as the growing normalisation of serious crimes in Goa. “Dacoities, murders, gang wars and kidnappings have become frighteningly common. Goans are no longer safe, even within their own homes. It is time for Goa Police officers to rise above political interference and reclaim their authority. Where are we heading? We are not safe at home or on the roads,” Naik said. Advocate Vidhata Rajesh Dessai said the State is wit nessing a dangerous shift. “Goa, once regarded as a peace ful coastal haven, is today grappling with a surge in dacoity attempts. The craving for a luxurious lifestyle, exposure to drugs and the pressures of rapid urban development have altered the State’s social balance,” Dessai said. “These back to-back incidents have created a palpable sense of insecu rity across Goa,” she added. Cuncolim resident Depesh Naik echoed the public’s un ease. “Despite intensified police patrolling, such incidents continue to occur,” he said, urging authorities to adopt stronger preventive measures to ensure public safety. “If left unchecked, they could even trigger a rise in other of fences like kidnappings and murders. Prevention and de tection are core duties of the police, and such incidents also hurt businesses and traders who rely on a secure en vironment to operate,” said Naik.
Goa on Edge: Armed Gang Attempts Midnight Break-In at Chaudi Jewellery Shop Days After Baina Dacoity
