Tuesday’s attack on jeweller Sohan Raikar at Borda has sent shockwaves across Margao, rekindling fears and raising pressing questions about the fear of law enforcement and police’s effectiveness in safeguarding citizens and their livelihoods. The incident brings back haunting memories of the past — the brutal murder of Swapnil Walke five years ago — highlighting fearless crimes that threaten to undermine the sense of security in Goa.
On a seemingly routine evening at around 6.30 pm, Raikar's jewellery shop on the busy Borda road became the scene of chaos. The attacker, disguised with a mask, entered under the guise of selling gold ornaments that he claimed belonged to his mother. Instead of negotiations, he reportedly pulled out a hammer and began assaulting Raikar. Although the police report indicates that the attacker did not manage to steal any jewellery, the act of violence leaves an indelible scar. Raikar was rushed to the hospital with bleeding injuries, a grim reminder of how quickly a moment of routine business can turn into a life-threatening ordeal.
If we recall, in 2020, the murder of jeweller Swapnil Walke, who was shot and stabbed during a robbery attempt, had left several questions wide open. The recurrence of such incidents suggests that the criminals operate with a sense of impunity, emboldened by perceived weaknesses in the security apparatus. Both incidents suggest that ‘jewellers’ have been the primary targets.
Goa has been witnessing a series of robberies, burglaries, assaults and murders in recent times. The horrific acid attack at Dhargal last month and the spate of thefts in the capital city are testimony to the state of affairs. The South Goa Superintendent of Police, Tikam Singh Verma, recently informed that the police department has registered 432 criminal cases over the past six months, out of which he claimed 378 have been successfully solved. The police leadership has been boasting about a crime detection rate of nearly 90 per cent across Goa. The question is, why is the crime graph not going down?
The spate of crimes, often brazen and seemingly unafraid of law enforcement repercussions, points to a failure somewhere. The questions that arise in the Borda case are baffling: How did the assailant muster the courage to carry out such a daring attack in broad daylight? Was this a planned robbery, or was there an underlying personal motive? The police have yet to conclusively establish the motive, with preliminary investigations suggesting that the attacker did not steal jewellery during the incident. The ambiguity fuels public concern about whether these crimes are driven solely by greed or motivated by personal vendettas and shady deals.
The police's inability to apprehend the attacker even two days later points to an urgent need for proactive patrolling and enhanced investigative resources. The detection rate figures are not helping here. The police need to look at the CCTV footage closely and perhaps gather the audio if possible to understand the conversation between the two during the attack. This could provide vital clues to understand linkages and motives.
This is not about an attack or two. Every time there is an assault, robbery or a crime happening, fear sets in, and questions arise whether we are risking a future where crimes are increasingly becoming a norm. Are people losing their confidence in policing? Or is the system too complacent? Whatever the situation, the cycle of fear needs to be broken and the confidence in the rule of law restored.
