TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Students of history would know that when the British colonial authorities introduced the railway network to India in the 19th century there were benefits to be had by the people in terms of mobility but also the disadvantage (from a nationalist point of view) that thanks to the rail network, the imperial power could consolidate and expand its hold over the country. Much the same can be said of Goa’s strong rail and road network ~ whilst it is a boon for ordinary citizens, it also has the unintended effect of helping the gangs of burglars who have caused havoc across the State make quick getaways.
Unlike other ‘specialist’ gangs, a variety of burglars are active in Goa forming and splitting gangs with regularity. They have one thing in common, though ~ they all lose no time in slipping out of the State after their heist with their loot. Locals, incidentally, are rarely involved in these gangs of burglars.
Traditionally, a police officer said, burglar gangs went under the nomenclature of the “Pardhi Gang” named after a tribe from western India the British had labelled a “criminal tribe” in pre-Independence days which was later de-notified by the Indian government. Though there were some members of the Pardhi community involved in burglaries in Goa (as there are from all communities), the moniker stuck to the burglar gangs comprising mainly of migrants who crossed the State border overnight, “hit’ a house for the burglary and made their way back to neighbouring States leaving no clue whatsoever for the investigators ~ exactly copying the modus operandi of the Pardhi Gang.
Another burglar gang that used to operate in Goa which police claim is now not operating in the State is the Kochar Gang. Members of this burglar gang are said to hail from the Bellary District of Karnataka.
Described by a police officer as operating “bare-chested with only a “chaddi” (undergarment) and with oil applied all over their body”, members of this gang are known to be expert tree climbers as well. Police say combing operations in the native places of these gangs have produced the desired results and they have stopped striking in Goa.
Ironically, policemen on the ground actually rue the fact that the Baina red light area was demolished because, they say, that when it was operating at its peak it would be the first stop for burglars flush with loot after a heist before they crossed the State border. A senior police officer said: “The burglars would go to the brothels flush with funds and it was easier to both spot them through our informers and pick them up in raids, usually with their loot”.
The figures available from the police department regarding burglaries are disturbing, to say the least. Every alternate day there is robbery or
burglary reported in Goa. That’s a total four burglaries or robberies a week on average. This, despite night patrolling.
Police clarified that the recent spate of burglaries at KTC bus stand and Vasco were not the handiwork of professional gang reasoning that the targets were not chosen wisely. Professional burglar gangs do a full recce before striking. In Panjim, garage and tea-stalls were targeted which is a job of petty criminals,” said an officer who has
investigated such cases. “Criminal gangs strike with full force and they fearlessly burgle the places and go back with a huge booty,” he added, speaking of the shops, showrooms and houses burgled in the past few months where the criminals got away with a huge booty. “One thing is sure ~ the gangs strike for bulk cash and jewelry and recovery is often not possible even if we nab the culprits because in most cases the gold jewelry is already melted and the cash spread out across the border,” he said.
