AERIAL VIEW

To tackle this problem, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will have to put his foot down and dismantle these small-time gangs, who are involved in extortion and criminal activities.
Such a step was taken by then CM Ravi Naik, who took on the gangs operating in Goa head-on in 1990-91. He almost finished the gang culture in Goa.
Now, Dr Pramod Sawant will have to do something similar. Maybe he would do good to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which will probe such cases and dismantle the gangs in Goa.
This is the need of the hour.

Off late, we have seen a spurt in goondagiri as small-time gangs fight amongst themselves for supremacy, which is tarnishing Goa’s image worldwide.
The crime rates in Goa are not as large a number as seen in India, yet Goa continues to have serious crimes in Goa.
This does not augur well for Goa as it is a popular tourist destination, and such crimes can affect tourism.
Shocking, as we said yesterday, criminal activities are no more limited to non-Goans, as Goan youth are also taking the path of crime, as was seen in Ravi Shirodkar’s stabbing case at Nagoa.
To tackle this problem, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will have to put his foot down and dismantle these small-time gangs, who are involved in extortion and criminal activities.
Such a step was taken by then CM Ravi Naik, who took on the gangs operating in Goa head-on in 1990-91. He almost finished the gang culture in Goa.
Now, Dr Pramod Sawant will have to do something similar. Maybe he would do good to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which will probe such cases and dismantle the gangs in Goa.
This is the need of the hour.
Goa Police forces have to be given added ammunition in the fight to disrupt gangs through the enactment of stronger legislation targeting these criminal groups and attacking their financial base.
The dismantling of criminal gangs and degrading their capacity is an important element if the Dr Pramod Sawant Government intends to fight against crime.
Sawant needs to target gangs and the conditions that give rise to them under the broader strategy to reduce crime and build a safer Goa.
The strategy must be anchored in five pillars: effective policing, crime prevention through social development; situational prevention, sure and swift justice process, and reducing reoffending.
Effective policing, involving a community-based approach, will have the most immediate and noticeable impact on crime.
Reducing reoffending is an essential element of the crime strategy, as it involves a policy of rehabilitation that redirects offenders from pursuing careers in crime into becoming productive, law-abiding citizens when they return to society.
Consider the case of Tarzan Parsekar, he has been involved in several crimes and has been arrested several times but he does not shy away from committing further crimes because he has not faced any significant punishment. Not only is he himself, but he is influencing young minds to take the path of crime.
Places like Indira Nagar Chimbel, Moti Dongor, Zuarinagar, and Camrabhat are becoming breeding grounds for the wannabe goons.
What’s more, these small-time goons enjoy the support of the local politicians. These goons work for the politicians during elections, and after that, they are protected from the law by the politicians.
If CM has the will to finish the gangs, he will also need to tackle these politicians, who would create hindrances in SIT action.