Team Herald
CANACONA: The Canacona Jagrut Nagrik Samiti held a public meeting in Palolem on Saturday evening to discuss the recent spate of assaults and thefts committed by a gang of youth. The meet was attended by around 350 residents, police and owners of shops, kiosks, and shacks.
Speaking on the occasion, Canacona Municipal Council chairperson Prathana Naik Gaonkar said that this “goondagiri” should stop immediately and the police should act accordingly. She added that the people of Canacona would not be taken for granted and would stand up to this gang and not give into fear.
According to the speakers, a gang of 30-35 teenagers is moving around Palolem beach, especially at night, where they assault tourists and steal their valuables; gang members sometimes also walk into restaurants, eat an expensive meal, and walk away without paying.
“The police need to get to root of this problem. We have provided the names of all the accused, their modus operandi and have also given examples of how people have been affected, and in some cases, reluctant to come forward as they fear they will be targeted by the gang. Through the meeting, we have told everyone that they have the support of the public and now the police must act without any further delay,” said senior citizen Arvind Desai.
Journalist Soiru Komarpant said that such public meetings would pressurise the government to arrest the hoodlums, but also questioned the role of locals who had given their houses on rent to such anti-social elements.
When it was pointed out that some of the youth were locals, Councillor Shyam Sunder Desai, said that the youth must be guided properly and counselling should be provided by senior citizens.
Senior citizen Natividade de Sa said that these cases had increased due to the prevalence of drugs, prostitution, and the failure of the police to control these illegal activities and track the involvement of migrants at Palolem beach.
All the speakers also stressed on how there was a feeling of insecurity and fear in anyone who visited Palolem at night, especially after 10 pm, and how this has never been the case in the otherwise peaceful beach surroundings.
Locals also informed that two youth, who are locals and leaders of the gang, had called in gangs of miscreants from across the border and various parts of Goa to form this organised gang. They said that there were as many as eight cases in the last few days, but only few had been reported this month as people were scared after having suffered physical injuries.
Many speakers informed the police about law and order problems during the recent tourist season at Palolem and other Canacona beaches, which included robberies, drug peddling and assault.
Councillor Divakar Pagui stated that two days back, a person was severely assaulted with lathis and another was injured, but both had not complained to the police because of lack of protection and because the police ask for witnesses.
He also said that some local police constables were hand-in-glove with these teenage goondas.
While offering their full cooperation, the police asked the public to immediately register complaints against the gang members as it would become easier for the police to arrest them. The police added that they had initiated action against the accused through the sub-divisional magistrate’s office, besides registering cases against two of the accused.
Dy SP Sammy Tavares, after listening to the grievances of the people, said that he would personally look into the matter and see that such “goondas” are arrested immediately. He also assured that beat posts would be established at Palolem within a fortnight if the municipality provided them place so that confidence could be built among the people, especially tourists.
“Likewise, drugs and prostitution, if any, will be controlled at the earliest,” added Tavares.
