Team Herald
MARGAO: The South Goa District Magistrate has directed all heads and in-charges of nationalised banks in the region to ensure 24/7 security for ATMs. This includes the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras or an Electronic Surveillance System (ESS) with features like a panic button, two-way communication, hooter, and remote control.
Additionally, property owners—including those of residential establishments, hotels, shacks, private guest houses, and religious bodies—must verify the identities of individuals before providing temporary accommodation. Non-compliance will result in FIRs being filed for violations.
Unlike previous practices that allowed violators to evade accountability due to jurisdictional gaps, the revised order empowers Deputy Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrates across South Goa to monitor and address violations actively. They are authorised to file FIRs at police stations and submit complaints to Judicial Magistrates.
The South Goa Superintendent of Police has been instructed to ensure that all local police stations are aware of and adhere to these guidelines. The order also requires them to report violations to the appropriate Deputy Collectors or Sub-Divisional Magistrates for swift action.
The Magistrate’s directives follow a report by the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, highlighting the rising misuse of fake identities and false addresses by criminals to secure temporary accommodations. This practice has made it difficult for law enforcement to trace suspects after committing crimes.
To counter this, the Magistrate has called for stricter checks, requiring accommodation providers to verify identities with legitimate documents such as Voter IDs, Aadhaar Cards, Passports, or Driving Licences.
The directive specifically requires all such establishments to maintain detailed entries in the PATHIK (Programme for Analysis of Traveler and Hotel Informatics) software prepared by the police. This software must be updated regularly with comprehensive details of all customers and visitors, ensuring a thorough documentation of temporary residents across South Goa.
Under the strict provisions of the order, no landlords, tenants, owners, or property managers within the territorial jurisdiction of South Goa District shall let, sublet, or rent out any accommodation to any person unless the complete particulars of the tenants have been furnished to the Officer-In-Charge of the concerned Police Station. This mandatory reporting mechanism aims to create a robust tracking system for temporary residents and visitors.
Furthermore, all in-charges of accommodations are required to provide full facilities for inspection and maintain records in the aforementioned PATHIK software, allowing police authorities and other authorised entities to conduct comprehensive surveillance and verification.