TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: After the arrest of several members of the dreaded Trichur-based ‘Re 10-note gang’, abundant opportunity for crime in the State has attracted an Iranian gang which Thursday targeted two government offices and snatched a woman’s mangalsutra.
This Baluchistani gang ~ from the Iranian-Pak border ~ has nearly 400 cases pending against them in Pune itself and more than 100 cases, this year till date.
According to police sources, the gang has most likely travelled from Pune to Goa committing a spate of thefts in Kolhapur and other places enroute.
Panjim reported three thefts Thursday and police suspect that it could be the handiwork of this Iranian gang.
The first case is that of Pratibha Korgaonkar whose mangalsutra was snatched by two unidentified bike-borne robbers at Altinho.
The other case is of Blanche Pednekar from Caranzalem who alleged that unknown persons snatched her purse containing ATM cards, Rs 4,800 and some official documents from the Corporation of the City of Panaji.
In the third case, a bag belonging to Neumani Rodrigues containing Rs 38,000 and other documents was stolen from the office of Water Resources Department at Junta House.
The State has witnessed repeated thefts and robberies including housebreaks with the government coming under increasing pressure from the public and Opposition on the issue. The chief minister who also holds the Home portfolio has been giving assurances on law and order saying moves are on to strengthen the police force.
Sources, however, say that even after the arrest of several gang members, the conviction rate of these culprits leaves a lot to be desired.
