VASCO
The three schools in Mormugao taluka which have been burgled within a gap of about one week earlier this month have appealed to the government to provide schools with a watchman after school hours, to ensure safety and security of educational institutions.
Cynthia Raposo, PTA chairperson of St Theresa School at Vasco which was burgled on March 3, felt that schools should be provided with better security.
"We did not know that the DVR of the CCTV system was on the tables and the DVRs were also stolen from the school. DVRs play a vital role to view any CCTV footage and these systems must be kept in a different place which is out of reach of any culprits,” said Raposo.
“The DVRs must be kept in a locked place in a different location. I feel the burglars have carried out a proper study and then targetted the school because they know that the school did not have any security at night, which made the school a soft target.”
“We cannot blame anyone for the burglary but my view is that schools must be given better security because money from donations or canteen is always lying in the school.”
“I have even spoken to the school regarding having security at night but then the school feels that they may have to pay from the school funds. With four to five schools being burgled, schools need to have CCTVs with DVRs placed in safe location and locked premises and the government must come forward and provide schools with security and watchmen in schools," Raposo added.
Seby Braganza, principal of the Infant Jesus Academy at Velsao which was burgled on March 7, said the school management had met the PTA committee and discussed about measures to be taken so that such incidents are not repeated.
“All were of the opinion that the government should, if possible, help the school by providing security personnel. I do not know whether other schools have made any elaborate arrangements in beefing up the security but it is very difficult for a school like ours to have our own security person because of financial constraints,” said Braganza.
“It is a request to the education department that irrespective of its strength, a school should be given security because such incidents are taking place every now and then.”
Rajashree Jadhav, Assistant Headmistress of Keshav Smruti School at Dabolim which was burgled on March 11, said they were shocked that their school was targetted by burglars despite being right next to the road and in the vicinity of residential areas.
“We have security during school hours, but schools are being targetted at night when there is no one present. We now request the government to give us watchman or a security guard after school hours, specially during night time, through the education department," said Jadhav.
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
Asked if the police made any headway into the burglaries at schools, Vasco Police Inspector Kapil Nayak said the police are investigating from all angles, including technical investigation.
“Our intelligence staff of the districts are collecting details of culprits and also verifying the previous cases with a similar modus operandi and the culprits involved in such crimes,” said PI Nayak.
“From our sides, we have advised schools not to keep any cash and other valuable things in schools after school hours and also advised them to deploy security personnel during night time.”
