Scene 1, Shortly after midnight
A single constable was manning one of the state’s most crucial borders while sitting inside the booth. There is no gate to this border either. The HIT travelled to the site after midnight on Thursday to find out more.
At the check post, there are supposed to be a multitude of agencies responsible for maintaining order and to prevent illegal transportation and smuggling of contraband items. The agencies include the police department, forest department, excise department, transport department and commercial tax department.
Police, forest, excise, all gates unmanned
At Patradevi check post, there are two separate posts – one manned by the police and forest department and the other by the excise and commercial tax department. However, at both places, there are no gates and no one was around to keep proper watch over the vehicles passing by at that time.
This HIT carried with them a toy gun, some white talcum powder appearing to look like drugs and a box of beer filled with stones, to give the illusion of an explosive or to give the idea of liquor transport.
The HIT crossed the border into Maharashtra and not one official approached to check the vehicle and didn’t even bother about the fact that the car passed through the border easily. The team stopped a little ahead and proceeded to click photographs of the border and returned the same way and entered Goa.
Carrying so called contraband items across the border seemed like cake walk. After crossing the border, the team clicked more photographs but not one of the police found the activity to be suspicious or inquired with the team.
There was just one policeman, not at the check post but sitting inside the booth.
The team then decided to question the policemen and inquired with the constable why he was alone. He responded saying that the head constable and other staff was resting in the outpost behind the booth.
The NH17 is a vital link road that traverses through Goa and ends in Kerala and yet there is no sense of security here.
Any consignment from outside the state can be brought into Goa unchecked during the night. Goa is a well known tourist destination and on several occasions, it has faced serious terror threats. But agencies seemed to be relaxed, jeopardizing the safety of citizens in the process.
The forest check post had one empty chair with no one in it
Opposite the police check post, the forest department also has its own check post set up. After noticing a light on inside the booth, the HIT checked it out. Shockingly, there was no one inside the booth.
Having this knowledge, the approach of the police has been dubious. The easy passage through the state border has encouraged the smuggling industry to carry on their trade without fear.
According to Pernem police, the gate was removed after a raid by then Inspector General of Police, Kishen Kumar in December, in which a police officer and two others were suspended for neglecting security.
Additionally, the three police men suspended on suspicion of them running an extortion racket at the border. Reports say that the police were allowing vehicles through without checking them after accepting bribes from the drivers.
We check vehicles only if we have specific information. Otherwise, we usually don’t check each and every vehicle,” an officer with the Pernem police told the HIT.
Goa has five border check posts in all. Out of the five, the three check posts at Mollem, Pollem and Patradevi are most crucial in terms of transportation.
Guarding the check posts is the responsibility of the local police.
