South Goa administration steps up vigil ahead of festive season

South Goa Collector Egna Cletus, IAS, and South Goa police chief, SP Tikam Singh Verma, IPS, chair a joint meeting on the law and order situation in the district on Thursday.

MARGAO
In order to ensure law and order in the district during the ensuing festive period, the South district authorities have issued directions to ensure the smooth conduct of all festivities, including Ganesh Chaturthi and Milad-un-Nabi in the district.

At a Law and Order Review Meeting at the South Goa District Collectorate, jointly chaired by Ms Egna Cleetus, IAS, South Goa Collector & District Magistrate, and Superintendent of Police, South, Tikam Singh Verma, IPS, it was further decided to deploy police teams to maintain heightened vigilance to ensure communal harmony and public safety during the festive period.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Collectors & SDMs, Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs), senior officials from the district administration, police department, and other stakeholder agencies.

The arrangements for the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi and Milad-un-Nabi were reviewed in detail. Directions were issued to ensure the smooth conduct of all festivities, with special emphasis on crowd management, traffic regulation, illumination, and cleanliness.

Arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations were also reviewed. The Collector directed the SDMs and SDPOs to ensure that all programmes are conducted in a dignified manner, while maintaining law and order, regulating traffic, and ensuring public safety throughout the events.

It was decided to increase night patrolling across the district, particularly in vulnerable and high-footfall areas, to prevent crimes and ensure public safety. The tenant verification drive will be intensified, and house owners were urged to comply with police verification norms to prevent misuse of rented premises.

It was decided to initiate strict action against traffic violators, including those indulging in drunken driving, rash driving, and illegal parking.

The meeting also reviewed chapter cases under CrPC and BNSS pending with Deputy Collectors and SDPOs to ensure their timely disposal. Sensitive matters such as custodial death cases and incidents of illegal bullfighting were discussed, with instructions issued for strict monitoring and prompt legal action in accordance with the law.

The effective arrangements made for the recent Saptah festival by the office of Superintendent of Police, the Deputy Collector & SDM, Mormugao, and SDPO, Mormugao, were appreciated, as the event concluded peacefully without any law and order disturbances.

The Collector and SP appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities, report suspicious activities, and celebrate the upcoming festivals peacefully and responsibly.