MARGAO: A massive influx of migrants spread across the South Goa district and their involvement in a number of crimes, including 21 murders cases in just the last nine-and-half-months of this year, has become a major concern for the resident population and the South Goa administration.
Over 80 per cent of the accused and the victims involved in these murders were migrants. Police investigations have revealed that most of these murders and violent crimes took place due to previous enmity, over fights under the influence of alcohol, over property disputes and some due to one-sided love affairs, etc .
The alleged accused mostly migrants were working either at construction sites, bars and restaurants, hotels or as casual labourers.
Of the 21 murders which took place in last nine-and-half-month of this year, 18 cases have been detected. Of these four murders were reported in Curchorem police station, two each in Margao, Canacona, Vasco, Verna, Mormugao and Ponda police stations and one each in the jurisdiction of Colva, Cuncolim, Fatorda, Quepem and Maina-Curtorim police station.
Colva PI Filomeno Costa said, “As per police investigations most of these murders and violent crimes have occurred due to previous enmity, over fights under the influence of alcohol, over property disputes, few due to one-sided love affairs, etc.” He however said that he has issued directions to police beat staff to keep a strict watch on the activities of migrants and to check tenant verification.
PI Costa said that Colva police station has conducted 4,283 tenants verification till October 18 this year and the drive will continue. He said that verification of tenants and maids has helped to a large extent in detecting cases.
Quepem SDPO Nilesh Rane said that along with detection of crime, prevention of crime is also the primary duty of the police. “Police public healthy coordination and cooperation will lead to preventing crime well in time,” he added.
According to DySP Rane, murders have many angles and some of them are unintentional and take place in fit of anger. “These are not planned crimes,” he said.
He further informed that the tenants verification and other measures including patrolling have been intensified in the Quepem sub- division to avoid crimes. “We are trying to do maximum tenants verification. We have covered almost 95 per cent of the area,” DySP Rane said.
Adv Amaranth Desai appearing in some sensational criminal cases including murders said that sometime prosecutions fail at the trial because the evidence is insufficient to prove that defendant is guilty in murder cases.
Although the police are making continuous efforts to bring culprits to book with thorough investigation, the conviction ratio particularly in some criminal cases has not been so effective for various reasons including non-cooperation of witnesses and thus, cases end with acquittals.
Prominent advocate Prashant Borkar said “In some cases witnesses from the victim’s side turn hostile and adduces evidence favourable to the accused bowing to pressures. The victims and the accused side opt for compromise or out of court settlement due to possible pressures.”
Another advocate on condition of anonymity said that police charge criminal cases based on statements recorded of the witnesses during investigation. But, in some cases, witnesses turn hostile thereby helping the accused to get the benefit of doubt and thus acquitted.
A senior police officer said that the increase in migrant workforce coming from other states has significantly resulted in several cases of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping cases involving children, besides other crimes against women. He said the number of street children and child labourers has also increased in Salcete villages, many of whom belong to migrant workers.
On the other hand regarding the work load and pressure, a head constable attached to one police station in Salcete informed that the strength of police staff, particularly head constables in some police stations of Salcete is dismal. He claimed that some of the police stations in South Goa are run by 5 head constables.
