SHARP RISE OF CRIME IN SOUTH GOA

MARGAO: The South Goa district has witnessed a rapid change in its demographic structure and the crime pattern has also changed accordingly.  Inadequate deployment of police personnel and lack of infrastructure are posing difficulties for the administration to keep crime under check.

For instance, Colva police station has to provide security to around 22 km of coastal belt, which falls under its jurisdiction, but the police presence in these area is very poor. As per the sources in police, two constables and four tourist police are guarding the entire stretch.

As per the data for September 2009-December 2010 period, thefts were reported at 61 places in this area, the major being at Paroda-Curchorem and Quitla.

In South Goa, temple burglaries were reported at Sheldem, Tilamol, Cuncolim, Paroda-Curchorem, Sanguem and other places with no breakthrough yet in the cases.  South Goa police do not have independent dog squad and fingerprint experts besides it lacks other infrastructure, said police sources.

During the last three months several thefts have been reported in Margao with no breakthrough in the cases. Influx of economically weaker migrants, hailing from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other parts into the city is seen to be the reason behind this.  Margao police have stepped up patrolling at some jewellery shops and intensified the night and day patrolling.

A former panchayat member of Curtorim said that detecting the crime is, no doubt, the main obligation of the police, but it appears that with growing migrants in the slums, police will have use heavy hand to put a check on their activities.

He said that the government should come out with law to curtail the influx of migrants in the state.  “We have waited for long for the influx to end, but the migration graph has spiralled out of control. Now, the people are getting impatient,” he said.  Nobody can deny that migration of labourers reflected the demand for manpower, however, we cannot permit unchecked influx of migrants, he added.

According to the police sources, the migrants from Bihar, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa are seen in all the corners of the Margao city and its close-by areas. They dominate the industrial scene, and the Margao city is also dependent on the migrant labourers for all purposes. They work in small factories, fields, construction sites and business establishments. The migrant women work in the homes as domestic help and servants.

A city advocate, Mr S V Naik said that the South Goa district administration appears to be not concerned about the deteriorating situation — the increase in the crimes like theft, murders, snatching of purses etc.  Mr Naik further said that poor deployment of police personnel in South Goa shows how serious is the district administration in keeping crime under check.