Mormugao, which houses the most vital installations, including port, petroleum storage tank, naval base and airport, has started attracting wrong attention for the increase in heinous crimes in the taluka.
The triple suicide case in Zuarinagar, daylight attack on RTI activist in Sancoale and daytime shootout in Bogmalo which resulted in the death of a Goan youth has raised concern among the locals from Mormugao taluka about their safety and harmony.
Residents, who have badly suffered for past one and half years due of COVID-19 pandemic and loss of livelihood, are once again facing the brunt of daylight crimes taking place in the once peaceful villages of Mormugao.
Locals expressed their views and their fears which are coming true in real life. Vinayak Naik a youth from Vasco, on increase in crimes, said, “It is due to rampant influx in the migrants. Some of it is fuelled by illegal constructions in New Vaddem, Baina, Mangor and Chicalim. They build the house illegally and give on rent to migrants”.
Lourenco D’Silva from Cansaulim said, “There is need to keep strict police vigil at the railway stations for infiltration on history sheeters and verify the anti-scoial elements by checking their Aadhaar Card’. Goans need to be alert on suspicious activities happening in their surrounding and should inform nearest police to avoid any crimes.
Parshuram Sonurlekar, of Goa First NGO from Headland Sada, says, “It is not safe for the activists, NGOs and others, who raise genuine public issues. The recent attack on RTI activist is an example which will make whistleblowers’ to think twice before raising any issue. I also feel that person arriving in inter-State trains need be checked. Our State is turning into a safe haven for the outlaws who come to Goa and stay.”
Alka Damle from Chicalim also opined that there is a need for staying united and developing strong community bond, with plenty of interaction with person from neighbourhood. This will also help in preventing some burglary, theft and other heinous crimes. She also said there is also for the police to keep a strict vigil.
Meanwhile South Goa Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Kumar Singh said “The two crimes in the attack on RTI activist in Sancoale and the shootout in Bogmalo wherein one person died were “pre-planed” and were out of the enmity. In both these crimes, the friends of the victims planned the attack. Therefore crimes of such nature are non preventable. Despite this fact, the police succeeded in nabbing the people behind these crimes in both the cases.
SP Singh added “that certain preventive measures could be taken by the people such as installation of CCTV cameras, burglary alarms, etc. Tenant servant verification could be done”. Above all people participation and cooperation in giving inputs and timely information about some suspicious activities, etc, could play vital role in preventing crimes and also nabbing the criminals,” he concluded.
