PANJIM: There has been a major dacoity at the posh location of Nagalli Hills Dona Paula. Also there have been major drug hauls in Goa. In this context, Herald Media asked people, “Do robberies and major drug peddling signal complete collapse of law and order in Goa?” Here are the responses…..
There is no law and order in Goa. It is such a shameful thing to say that Goa is such a small state with only 15 lakh population and we cannot have law and order. It is a shame for the elected representatives, the home minister and the police. What are they doing? Gang enters a house rob, beat up people, there are murders, rapes, there is assault on a young child. Recently, in Siolim so many drugs have been seized. How is this happening? It is happening because of the power which the elected representatives and the police force wield. They are all involved in this. We have known this n number of times.
Cecille Rodrigues Resident, Dona Paula
The duty of the government is to detect crime after it happens. But the more important duty is to prevent crime from happening (through intelligence). In such a scenario, with the latest robbery which took place at Dona Paula, at the residence of an influential industrialist family is shocking. And that too has happened where there is a watchman outside the house. This has sent shivers down the spine of the people of Goa. If you are not safe with a watchman at your door and police patrol in a prestigious area like Dona Paula, is beyond understanding and imagination. Why are the thieves, drug peddlers and murderers emboldened? People believe that the drug peddlers especially are connected to the people in power; this cannot happen.
Trajano D'Mello Political Commentator
The law and order situation has become so bad that it has not collapsed, it has become a joke. Although serious crimes are being committed, they show that nothing has happened. Now there is such a fear, that senior citizens are scared to stay in the house because the law and order has totally collapsed. People keep ferocious dogs, because they have no faith in people. Regarding drugs, this is revenue for them. This is revenue for the government. They show symbolic raids where Rs 42 crores and Rs 11 crore worth drugs are seized. But huge cartels are operating in the coastal areas. This total revenue goes to them. Tourism is finished and drugs are the fastest way of getting revenue.
Mariano Ferrao Social Activist