A surge in violence involving guns, be it for varying motives, has perplexed the authorities as the once peaceful State now reports this serious crime as near-fatal attacks have also become a common phenomenon.
As States began to lift COVID-19 restrictions last year, Goa was rattled by a late night shootout in St Cruz. The village, in decades past had been a high-crime neighbourhood, prompting the bulk presence of patrolling cops. The shooting, a result of bitter rivalry between two criminal gangs, brought back the old memories.
The most recent shooting incident occurred at Bogmalo where a man was killed. The contract killing was the brainchild of the deceased Amar Naik’s girlfriend’s brother. The crime has led to another debate about prevalence of contract killing, considering that similar cases were reported in the past.
Several present and retired law enforcement officials interviewed by Herald acknowledged the seeping in of violent crime into the State, but also claim, that it is not entirely new to Goa.
A senior officer, presently serving in Goa Police, conceded that gun violence and near-fatal attacks are being reported at an alarming rate. “It’s not that Goa did not register crimes in the past but the manner in which the crime scene has taken a turn has left many of us scrambling for a solution. Gun violence is becoming prevalent with nearly four such incidents in a year’s time. Easy availability of illegal local-made gun in States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could prove detrimental for Goa,” the officer said seeking anonymity.
The officer said that ferrying a katta via train or road goes unchecked and habitual offenders, while also contract killers, effortlessly execute the task, until caught after committing the crime.
The over-explored State of Goa has been a year-round tourist destination with many making it their second home too.
“Any developing tourist destination all over the world brings all sorts of things, be it criminal activities, prostitution, etc. For example, casinos bring revenue but immoral activities also come along with it. Goa is developing but not progressing,” retired Superintendent of Police Apa Teli said.
A 2004-retired officer is, however, content with immediate detection of the crime unlike several years ago when technology was barely incorporated with policing. “Such crimes (shootings) happened in the earlier days as well but detection would take time. While the role of police is limited for “prevention of crime” – owing to development – “detection of crime” is tremendous. During our time, there was no technology but with its availability now, the investigators have been able to efficient to crack the case. I am very happy with the detection,” he said. “Shootouts during the olden days would rattle everyone but not now.”
Umesh Gaonkar, during his stint in the department, has probed nearly half a dozen shooting incidents until his superannuation over a year ago. According to him, crime analysis will reveal a pattern of such incidents. “Every shootout incident has been reported in the paper, there is a different motive and there is no crime without a motive,” he said, referring to the cases reported since June 2020.
“This is basically because of human psychology. It is for greed or to show might that criminals adopt this way of eliminating others. It is either to teach a lesson or for loot. We carry out crime analysis… There is a pattern and that is hiring of criminals – may be contract killers,” he said.
The retired SP recalled the sensational cold-blooded murder of Guru Pujari on November 23, 1999. Although the three accused have been acquitted, the order upheld by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, key conspirator – as per the charge sheet Zakarias Rodrigues – continues to remain at large.
Several years ago, a then sitting legislator from a South Goa constituency, was shot by unknown contract killers. He fortunately survived the attack.
Asked about the availability of guns, Gaonkar said it has become a convenient form of a weapon to “fire and run away” from the crime scene. Action movies are also largely influencing criminals to pick a gun for a crime.
While Amar Naik’s assailants had procured guns from Uttar Pradesh, two of the main accused in the spine-chilling murder of jeweller Swapnil Walke had travelled to Bihar to purchase the katta. Although, the accused had not used the illegal weapon but stabbed Walke to death in the robbery attempt that turned awry in the heart of commercial city of Margao on September 2, 2020.
“Situation in Goa is far better than other parts of the country. Weapons, either illegal or duplicate-produce are easily available in Bihar,” former SP Alex Rasquinha, who served in Goa, Daman & Diu, said.
The officer, who rose from a police sub-inspector to the rank of SP during his stint in the department from 1964-2000, claims Goa is still a peaceful State. “There must have been incidents (of shooting) but Goa cannot be compared to other States. There is no underworld operating in Goa,” he said. On being asked about seizure of illegal guns, outsourced from other States, he ended his short interview saying “let us hope for the best.”
