Anil Shankhwalker
The Porvorim police find it difficult to provide better law enforcement services to the people due to the police station’s shortage of staff and vehicles. The police station has jurisdiction in six panchayats: Reis Magos, Pillerne, Nehrul, Penha de Franca, Socorro, and Salvador do Mundo.
With incidents of housebreaking, burglaries, thefts, and chain-snatching on the rise in the constituency, the locals have demanded that the Porvorim police intensify their night patrolling. However, action cannot be taken due to the police station’s shortcomings.
In 2014, 309 accidents took place in the Porvorim police station’s jurisdiction. 12 were fatal and 34 were of a serious nature. 273 were car accidents alone. Besides, there were innumerable minor accidents that were settled by the involved parties. In Goa, Porvorim reported the biggest percentage increase in accidents with 22.13 percent.
In the same year, 67 burglaries/ thefts were registered with the police station, out of which the police detected only 21 cases. Two murder and five kidnapping cases were also reported.
Presently, the Porvorim Police Station is managed by a police inspector, eight sub-inspectors, three assistant sub-inspectors, four lady head constables, four lady constables, 17 head constables and 56 constables. 10 of the 56 constable have been deployed for miscellaneous duties in courts, the Secretariat, etc. The police station has to manage with only 46 constables, which is not sufficient for field duty, according to police officials. Additionally, the police station has one vehicle that is on the verge of breaking down.
Police officials opined that, considering the volume of work and area to be covered, the police station needed an additional 25 constables and five head constables and at least two more vehicles, like ‘Sumo’ or ‘Gypsy’ for effective policing.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte stated that the volume of work at the police station had increased immensely in recent times. He said, “To increase night patrolling, the police station needs more vehicles. With effect from July 8, the police have introduced a micro bit system, for which they require more staff. Hence, the need of the hour is to increase the staff strength and provide more vehicles to the police station.”
He continued, “Secondly, parts of Socorro, like Vadem and Kharrem, come under the Mapusa police jurisdiction. I had requested the government to bring both the aforesaid areas under the Porvorim police jurisdiction. I had raised this issue in the Assembly session and the assurance was given to me by the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, but so far the police department has not acted.”
