MAPUSA: With the rise in chain snatching cases in the State, it’s high time for the authorities to update the security and surveillance system.
But it looks like the authorities in Mapusa have not learnt any lesson from the crimes reported in the State as the CCTV cameras installed at the different places of town including the market are not operational since a year now.
Reliable sources claimed that most of the cameras are not operational due to lack of maintenance by the Mapusa Municipal Council. There are many important places in the town where the cameras are installed such as the Gandhi Chawk, Hutatma Chawk, market, taxi stand and others but these cameras are presently not in working condition.
Several chain snatching cases were reported recently in Bardez jurisdiction wherein the culprits have first interacted with the victims with pretext to enquire about the address and then in that process snatched the gold chains/mangalsutras.
These incidents were mostly reported during the early morning and late evening hours and targeted the women and senior citizens.
The police officials claimed that the people who are involved in the chain snatching cases are professional chain snatchers. They come from other States and then follow a route and a pattern similar to the cases reported recently in the State where they first committed the crime at Mapusa, followed by Assagao, Saligao, Old Goa and further in South Goa. These people enter the State and further cross the borders. They mostly target the victims at the isolated places with less movement of people.
Meanwhile, the police officials claimed that the department has deployed staff which patrol teams at certain places as well as isolated places during morning and evening hours.
The police officials from Mapusa also claimed that they have made several letters to the Mapusa Municipal Council with regards to getting the CCTVs operational. However, till date they have not received any response from the municipality.
Meanwhile, when contacted Chief Officer Kabir Shirgaonkar with regards to the status of the CCTV cameras surveillance in the municipal jurisdiction, he said, “Some cameras in the market have to be replaced while some have to be repaired. Also it’s not feasible to install cameras in entire municipal jurisdiction. They wanted cameras to be installed in all critical locations which is not possible but will try to install cameras at certain important points. Also the cameras which are installed in the market will be repaired.”
The police officials said that the cameras which are installed at important locations such as Gandhi Circle and Hutatma Chawk were very important since these cameras could capture every vehicle that pass through from all the routes. The police officials also claimed that making these cameras operational will help to crack down the cases.
