Canacona.
It’s not unusual for commuters to be stopped by the police on busy roads in Canacona, but what is surprising is the police personnel adopting dare devilary to stop motorists at each and every corner and issue them challans to achieve or surpass the targets achieved during the previous year.
Local residents cutting across all age groups in one voice have denounced the practice adopted by cops in Canacona who are seen everywhere to stop vehicles to check their documents if they are in order.
The favourite for these cops is two wheeler riders without helmet.
“Now a days cops may be they from police department or traffic police or from RTO they stand every where in the jurisdiction of Canacona police station and stop each vehicle irrespective of how in emergency they are” complains Anil Bhagat a senior citizen who himself frequently uses his two and four wheeler to and fro from his home to the market at Chaudi.
Their favourite places are at sharp turns as they position themselves where no commuter can see them, they pounce on you from no where alleged Socky Da Silva another resident of Palolem.
Many a times such things have ended up in accidents Socky informed.
This correspondent himself have seen these policemen doing exactly what many complained of irresponsible and high handed behaviour towards vehicle operators.
“There is a RTO check post at Polem, each and every vehicle more so the commercial vehicles are screened for the vehicular documents and the vehicles are allowed inside Goa only if the documents are in order”.
“Than what is the need for the police to stop these vehicles at the now defunct Entry Tax gate? asked another social activist wishing anonymity.
They are every where on the National Highway, be it at Sellim, Dapot, Mashem, Ponsulem, Char Rasta, Gulem and also on the treacherous Karmal Ghat.
Apart from the National Highway they stand on guard at Devabagh-Gulem road, Agonda-Palolem junction, Palolem-Ovrem junction, under Ponsulem underpass, Sheller, Mastimoll, Sristhal, literally everywhere in the taluka informed irked commuters.
When this correspondent questioned the PI of traffic police in Canacona the need for his subordinates to stand at the curves he agreed that their behaviour is in fact is creating fear in the mind of motorists and said that he will direct them to stand where there is clear visibility on either side.
This correspondent observed that in fact a week after that the policemen disappeared from these locations only to surface a week later.
“These cops literally jump on the vehicles, come on the middle of the road and do whatever they feel to stop the moving vehicles, this in turn is dangerous to both the commuters as well as the policemen themselves many agreed.
Sankalp Dessai while complain about the rude behaviour of cops informed that one of the traffic cops snatched his mobile and bike key inspite of he being cooperative with them, this is not a police raj he asserted.
With new rates coming into effect for the motor vehicle rules violation from 1st of May it is to be seen how the local motorists will react to the policemen stopping them unnecessarily many a times putting to risk everybody’s life around in jeopardy together with harassment meted out to the motorists.