PORVORIM: Claiming that the crime detection rate in Goa is the highest in the country, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Monday informed the House of the government’s plans to introduce the Goa Police Rules that will designate habitual criminals and history sheeters.
Replying to a calling attention motion on rising criminal cases in Goa, Sawant said Goa Police have been successful in detecting cases within 24 hours and that there is 100 per cent success rate in solving heinous offences in 2021.
He told the State Legislative Assembly that for the current year, the overall detection rate in the State is 86 per cent, which is highest in the country. “The detection rate in heinous cases is almost 96 per cent while 100 per cent with regards to crimes against women,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government has plans to introduce Goa Police Rules that propose designating habitual criminals and history sheeters. He also said crime mapping of beats to identify vulnerable areas is also being undertaken.
The House witnessed a healthy debate on the calling attention motion moved by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat with regard to the four murders, including a double murder in the span of four days. The Opposition charged political interference in criminal cases and accused the police of working under political pressure.
The Opposition raised serious concerns on the complete collapse of law and order in the State while pointing out how police have failed to maintain the situation and government failed to curb the increasing crime rate.
After briefing on the four murders, the Chief Minister said the government, through the police, has intensified patrolling in all beats and that tenant and migrant verification has been intensified in urban and panchayat areas.
Sawant also informed the House of operationalising the Cyber Forensic Lab for solving technical crimes. “I appeal to the members of the House that while making a statement one needs to be careful to ensure that it does not harm the image of Goa,” he said.
Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane said peaceful Goa is moving towards the ‘wild west’. “Is there no law and order situation? Government will have to take some strict action. Goa was always a peaceful State and we need to maintain that,” he said.
He demanded that the police will have to zero in on habitual criminals and deal with them in a stricter manner.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Kamat said with increasing crime, Goa might lose its identity of being the peaceful State in the country. “Four murders in two days have created fear in the minds of common citizens. We need to rebuild their confidence,” he said.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte charged that the police acted as per the whims and fancies of the government.
