When 40-year old Clemente Gomes was done to death on Easter Sunday last year, locals had pinned their hopes in the Margao police and other agencies to finally crack a whip against late night bars, prostitution, illegal scrap yards and anti-social activities along the station road around Malbhat-old railway station area. For, after the cold-blooded murder of the local lad, the men-in-uniform had finally made their presence felt in Malbhat, warning bar owners for keeping their premises open beyond 11 pm and scrap yards owners to shut the illegal activities.
Sadly, nine months down the line, the ground reality has not really changed for the better. For the first few days, shutters of the bars had rolled down at 11 pm and activities at the scrap yards remained subdued. Beleaguered residents of Malbhat now say that the situation is back to what it was earlier with the authorities turning a blind eye to the illegalities. Sources said that some of the bars and taverns are often found open till late in the night for reasons best known to the Margao police and excise officials.
What’s interesting to note is that prostitution and gambling have raised their ugly heads in the area. Local residents said that a small hotel in the area is fast turning into a hub for prostitution. They said that it is an open secret that the hotel is being used for the purpose of prostitution, but the Margao police have preferred to look the other way. Recently, a gambling club had surfaced on the station road, only to be shut down by a leader of a political party following a public outcry.
Freedom Fighter and MARG Convenor Gurunath Kelekar wondered why the police prefer to remain a silent spectator to the prostitution in Malbhat when everyone in the locality, right from the bar owners to a small time trader is aware of the flesh trade taking place in the hotel. “I feel that the Margao police should open a picket or an outpost at the Old Station road to rein in criminals and social activities,” he said.
A visit to the Malbhat area around the Holy Cross Chapel reveals the gross misuse of the public place by vagabonds and nomads. This stretch of the road – from the Chapel to the Apollo Victor hospital – had been the favourite ground for chain snatchers and petty criminals.
Incidentally, none of the scrap yards dotting the locality have moved out till date despite inspections and assurances dished out by the district and police authorities. Questions are being raised in Malbhat as to how the scarp yards continue to operate if they are illegal in nature. Locals say the railway authorities have also turned a blind eye to the scrap yards operating within the railway property.
Says Elvis Fernandes, president of Voice of Malbhat Association, “Things have not changed for the better in Malbhat since April 20 last year. There has been no let up in the anti-social activities. Nothing has changed in the locality.”
