PANJIM: As Goa looks back at 2024, cases of heinous crimes have steadily been rising, with 106 rapes and 29 murder cases being reported by the police in 2024. White-collar crimes have also risen exponentially, with the cash-for-jobs scam that broke in October 2024, ratcheting up figures of many crores of rupees that have been siphoned off. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people on whether they are concerned about high crime rate in Goa and if prevention and conviction of crimes is also very important as against the high rates of crime detection, which government boasts about?
Prevention and detection primarily depends on the police department. And police primarily depends on the head of the department. This means people of IGP and higher ranks and the one who is incharge of the Home Department. The Home Minister has to take regular reviews and give directions. But this is not happening in Goa. FIRs are not registered even after 24 hours in case of assault. There is no doubt that Goa Police have cracked some good cases. But they cannot rest on their laurels, they have to be 24x7 on the field.
Prashant Naik
There should be two division within the police, one is investigation and detection and one is law and order. They physical well built for whom most tests are tailored should be in law and order. Those is crime detection should be intellectually and analytically strong to analyse. Government has to immediately create these two sections. In the second category it can recruit people with law degrees. And investigation should be given to them.
Radharao Gracias, Advocate
The crime levels are gone so high that there is drinking in Panjim, on the route that the DGP takes, route which SP North and SP home take. This has to be curbed and law enforcement has to prevent crime and not only detect crime. There should be good surveillance by CIDs to uncover and prevent crimes especially in tourist dominated areas. There re thefts, rapes everywhere, this government should be ashamed of itself
Rui Ferreira, Advocate
There has been a complete failure on this front. The law and order situation has gone so bad, that we can actually say that the administration has collapsed. The only way government is sustaining itself is because the Opposition is not strong enough, it is not united enough. The Opposition has to immediately come out on the streets and bring the government to its knees.
Cleofato Coutinho, Advocate
There is no doubt that crimes are rising in Goa. Rapes, crimes, murder and suicides are increasing. We have to examine where are we going wrong? The online sex services have increased since attention has not been paid.
Auda Viegas, Activist
