PONDA: Expressing concerns over the rise in theft cases, including burglaries in flats and houses, the residents of Ponda have requested the authorities to install CCTV cameras and have called for intensified night patrolling by the police, especially during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival as several residents leave the town for their native villages.
The residents of the town have complained that the CCTVs in the town have been rendered defunct.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
It may be recalled that last week thieves posing as police looted the valuable gold ornaments at Dhavalim. Following this, on August 16, unknown thieves burgled a flat in Bethora during daylight and decamped with gold ornaments. Similarly, on August 20, late evening, the thieves burgled a flat at Sapna Park and stole gold ornaments and cash. It is pertinent to note that since the past few months several houses and flats have been burgled in the town.
The residents have urged the police to increase their presence and maintain a vigil to apprehend the thieves.
Ponda MLA and Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik advised residents to deposit their gold in bank lockers or take it with them when leaving their houses during the festival, as the police cannot be assigned to guard every house. He said residents should remain alert during Chaturthi to protect their valuables.
He said the ministry will deploy more police and called for verification of migrants.
He said a meeting will be convened with police officials to review security arrangements in view of the upcoming Chaturthi.
Ponda PI Tushar Lotlikar said that to prevent thefts, locals should remain alert and immediately inform the police about any suspicious activity.
He said to prevent thefts, the police will intensify day and night patrolling and advised the locals to keep their gold in bank lockers.
Vishal Fadte, a local, said that there is a dire need to install CCTV systems by the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) and panchayats in the taluka at each junction. The police need to verify migrants staying and visiting the taluka.
