With two constituencies to patrol, the Verna police are heavily handicapped with staff and vehicle shortage, added to work overload and interference
In spite of being one of the busiest police stations with jurisdiction across two talukas and two constituencies in the State, the Verna Police station suffers from two major ‘V’ ailments ~ vacancies and vehicles.
Acute shortage of staff and vehicles has crippled the police station, while interference and added workload have been such that there are very few takers for the vacant posts at the Verna police station.
The Verna police station caters to the villages of Verna, Nagoa, Velsao, Cansaulim, Utorda, Sancoale and Cortalim, which are located in two constituencies of Cortalim and Nuvem (part).
The Verna police station records one of the highest road accident rates in the State, but reaching the accident is itself an uphill task, given the shortage of Police Control Room (PCR) vans at the disposal of the Verna police station.
The Verna Police has been allotted only two PCR vans to cover an area relatively greater than the area covered by the Vasco police, which has been allotted four PCR vans.
According to sources at the Verna police station, one PCR van is exclusively stationed to patrol the accident-prone stretch of the highway from Zuari Bridge to Fr Agnel Ashram at Verna.
With this PCR busy patrolling the highway, the police station is left with only one PCR, which is sometimes used by police officials for official visits. During an emergency, the Verna police left with no PCR at the station.
“This makes it difficult for Verna police to undertake patrolling activities in areas like Velsao, Cansaulim and Utorda. In the late 1980s, the Verna Police station had the full posting of police staff,” said a police source.
“However over the years, the manpower has reduced considerably and presently, apart from the PI, there are 2 PSIs, 1 ASI, 7 head constables, 38 PCs, 1 LHC and 3 LPCs at the station. Despite these personnel, the Verna police still faces a shortage of 27 police personnel, consisting of 2 ASIs, 8 head constables and 17 PCs.”
“Due to the acute shortage of drivers and other police staff, we cannot even get time off even to have our lunch. There is no one to relieve us on duty and sometimes, we have to do continuous duty,” added the source.
When contacted, a senior police official admitted to the acute shortage of police manpower and vehicles at Verna.
“Despite several requests to the senior authorities to post more staff at Verna, the request is yet to be granted,” said the police official.
The police official also informed that the added workload and political interference has left the Verna police struggling to get more staff.
“As a result, most police personnel don’t want a posting at Verna Police station due to these factors,” admitted the police official.
