AERIAL VIEW
In the last month, we have witnessed murders, kidnapping, tourists being looted by illegal dance clubs, massage parlour owners, the rape of British tourists and so on.
Why is this happening, and why are the government and Goa police unable to control such a situation, tarnishing Goa’s reputation worldwide?
We have blamed the police and the government in our past articles for collecting haftas from these dubious joints, but is our duty only to criticise the government as citizens of the State? Do we not have any responsibility?
We know in most of the crimes, it is the migrants or the businessman from outside Goa who are involved. And where do these people stay or conduct business?
Unlike in the parts of the country, Goa was considered to be a peaceful place, with every Indian dreaming of this heavenly place at least once in a lifetime, enjoying its beauty, enjoying the food with a chilled glass of beer.
But that seems to be no more as the thugs and the thieves have tarnished the image of Goa in the global tourism scenario.
Murder, rapes, kidnapping, and looting of tourists seem to have become the day’s order.
In the last month, we have witnessed murders, kidnapping, tourists being looted by illegal dance clubs, massage parlour owners, the rape of British tourists and so on.
Why is this happening, and why are the government and Goa police unable to control such a situation, tarnishing Goa’s reputation worldwide?
We have blamed the police and the government in our past articles for collecting haftas from these dubious joints, but is our duty only to criticise the government as citizens of the State? Do we not have any responsibility?
We know in most of the crimes, it is the migrants or the businessman from outside Goa who are involved. And where do these people stay or conduct business?
It is we the people who let out our premises for rent like bar & restaurants, shops, flats and houses.
Do we even care to fill out the tenant verification form? Simply because they feel the process is too tedious and who will get into the police formalities.
As per police 70 p.c of, the people rent out their premises without verifying their antecedents. So why blame only the police?
As the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant has suggested that the action would be initiated against the police inspectors, officers and the beat police for their inability to discharge their duties and find out the illegalities in their jurisdiction.
Likewise, the Chief Minister has to also direct the police to find out those staying illegally without submitting the Tennant verification form on every premise, and if found guilty, the owners must be penalised and, in worse cases, seal the premise. Now, this would be the only deterrent to such crimes.
Another thing is homestays, rented flats, bungalows etc., which are not registered with the government. High profile criminals have started using these places as the premises themselves are illegal and have become safe heavens for criminals.
Agreed, the locals are trying to earn something from premises they own, but it is also essential that they maintain records of every tourist who stays or takes their premises for rent.
Every week, these premises must be asked to maintain a record and submit it at the respective police stations. But again, it should not become a tedious job. The process could be made online so that people do not waste their time.
By saying this, we are not trying to absolve the police from their responsibility. The primary responsibility lies with the police, and instead of challaning the tourists for helmets etc., the police could do well to look into other illegalities.
The police intelligence network in Goa seems to be the weakest as they do not know what happens where. They have no clue where the dance bars and massage parlours operate and who is selling drugs or those involved in prostitution.
Its high time the chief minister takes the responsibility on his shoulders and cleanses Goa of these anti-social elements.