MARGAO: It appears that the valiant efforts of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) are simply not enough to crack the whip on the highly-organised illicit liquor smuggling through the railways at Margao. Officials of Konkan Railway may deny the gang/s involved in these crimes, however, sources and locals are of the strong opinion that smuggling of illicit liquor is done in a well-planned manner, despite strict vigil at the railway station.
In the last two months, the RPF has arrested eight persons and seized nearly 974 bottles, worth Rs 1.40 lakh. However, this can be considered as just the tip of an iceberg, the gang/s involved in the crime goes scot-free and liquor trafficking continues.
Sources informed that during this curfew period illicit liquor is being smuggled on a large scale, as criminals find it easy to transport the same through railways.
In 2017 at a media briefing, the commissioner had admitted that liquor was smuggled from Goa through railways on a larger scale.
It is pertinent to note that CCTV cameras are installed at the various places at Margao Railway Station. However, despite this the concerned authorities have failed to crack the whip on the smuggling of illicit liquor.
“RPF personnel are keeping a strict vigil at the station to curb liquor smuggling, Baban Ghatge, Public Relations Officer the Konkan Railway Corporation informed Herald.
“974 bottles of illicit liquor worth around Rs 1,40,000 were seized by RPF, Margao in April and May and were handed over to Excise Department, Goa. Eight persons were arrested”, he informed.
In May, RPF arrested Raju Mandal, a native of West Bengal, and Anuz Gautam from Uttar Pradesh, wherein liquor worth Rs 20,586 was seized from them. In another raid, railway police personnel arrested Satyam Sen from Madhya Pradesh and seized nearly 83 liquor bottles worth Rs 21,150. Besides, three bags containing nearly 120 bottles worth Rs 23,000 were seized by RPF from the Netravati Express.
Few years ago, a RPF officer had initiated a major drive against the illicit liquor in and around the railway station area, wherein one had even died. The deceased was one of the accused who was active in trafficking illicit liquor via railways.
A local Abdul Razak claimed that there is a massive gang of criminals involved in illicit liquor smuggling. Criminals find it a very easy way to smuggle liquor via trains.
It may be recalled that four years ago two gangs involved in such crimes had a big conflict between them, which had resulted in a deadly attack.
When asked about the presence of gangs, Baban said, “No such gangs have been noticed. Most of them are doing it for a quick earning through smuggling.”
Sources informed that the gangs involved in liquor smuggling are very smart and act like passengers at the railway station. Several times the bags containing liquor bottles are abandoned at the platforms due to fear of police action. However, criminals find ways to smuggle the liquor from Goa to other States via trains.
The locals claimed that these criminals reside in and around the railway station and operate by maintaining a vigil on the movement of RPF personnel. The residents have demanded strict action against illicit liquor smuggling through well-planned raids.
