MARGAO
A Cyber Crime awareness programme organised by the Goa Police for Salcete sarpanchas saw the village heads raising a host of questions relating to understaffed police stations, the absence of police personnel to keep hawkers at bay along the coast and the lack of police patrolling for driving away anti-social elements at isolated and secluded areas.
Margao sub-divisional Police Officer DySP Shivenu Bhushan sought to reassure the sarpanchas that their concerns will be taken up with the higher-ups, insisting the awareness programme is called only to deal with cybercrime, how to prevent the same and quick action by the police in lodging complaints.
“With cybercrime raising its ugly head in recent times, it is necessary that the people take preventive measures and report to the police if they fall victim to cybercrime,” informed DySP Shivenu.
He said the programme is specially meant for the panchayat heads to ensure there’s maximum reach to the people in the village.
"Once the victims report cybercrime cases to the police, the onus then lies on the men in uniform to investigate and detect the cases. But, the first and important part of reporting the matter quickly to the police rest with the citizens,” he added.
Salcete sarpanchas comprising Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz, his Colva counterpart Suzie Fernandes, Sao Jose de Areal sarpanch Joycee Dias, Velim sarpanch Veena Cardozo, besides Joseph Vaz of Rachol, however, have called upon the police to beef up the manpower and improve the logistics at their police stations.
Dixon pointed out that there’s a dire need to beef up manpower and equipment at the Colva police station, which is having jurisdiction over the entire Salcete coastal belt.
“The beach belt has to contend with so many issues, including anti-social activity, migrant hawkers etc... But, the Colva police station lacks basic manpower and equipment. Even the Colva police station is housed in an old building, which does not offer a conducive environment for the men in uniform to work effectively in discharging their duties."
He added: “We have a police outpost in Cavelossim, which is manned by just four personnel. There is no lady police personnel to attend to issues relating to women, thus hampering the routine work of the police outpost. VIPs are coming to the coastal belt and the police are deputed for the bandobast work, leaving hardly any policemen to address issues of the villagers.”
Dixon pointed out that when Tourism is the biggest generator of revenue for the government, part of the taxpayers' money should be reinvested in providing basic amenities, including facilities which will boost policing along the tourism belt.
His Colva counterpart Suzie Fernandes said that Colva is considered a world-famous and iconic beach, but there are no policemen on the beach to keep the migrant hawkers and vendors at bay.
“The private security engaged by the panchayat cannot handle the hawkers and the illegalities. Hence, the government must post sufficient manpower to address the issues thrown by tourism-related activities,” she said.
Areal sarpanch Joycee Dias said the perpetrators of the crime should be made aware of the stringent punishment relating to crimes, especially cyber crimes, to deter people from committing the crimes.
Velim sarpanch Veena Cardozo said the police stations are many a time found preoccupied with other works than taking up the issues of the common man, while Rachol sarpanch Joseph Vaz underlined the need for the police to intensify nighttime patrolling in the village.
“People from outside come to the village under the guise of fishing but are believed to be indulging in drugs. I think the police station should be adequately equipped with manpower and vehicles to intensify night patrolling,” Joseph added.
