MARGAO
Burglars seemed making merry in the coastal village of Colva with a number of residential houses targeted at will in the last few days.
After the beleaguered residents knocked the doors of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, demanding action in the spate of burglaries, the MLA has set 48-hour ultimatum on the Colva police to nab the culprits and resolve the cases or face a gherao.
The MLA has also called for the replacement of South Goa District Police chief as well as the Colva police station in-charge if they cannot resolve the spate of burglaries.
Residents pointed out that the burglars have targeted closed houses in and around the 1st and 2nd ward of Colva village. They pointed out that the modus operandi adopted by the miscreants is simple “ that they target the closed and unoccupied houses to strike at will. After the two wards were hit by the thefts and burglaries, they approached the Colva police station to nab the culprits and to intensify patrolling. What they got in return from the Colva police is an assurance that investigations in the cases is underway and they cannot conduct continuous patrolling in view of the resource crunch faced by the police station.
Left with no option, the beleaguered residents marched to the office of the Benaulim MLA seeking justice from the police. They pointed out that the police have failed to resolve the cases despite provided with CCTV footage.
A victim told the media that he had recently come down from Dubai and had proceeded to Mumbai for a health checkup. He returned home in a space of just six days, only to find the house ransacked and burgled. “They have cut the locks of the doors to effect entry. The cupboards have been ransacked to lay their hands on the valuables. I have suffered a major loss,” he said.
Though the Colva police had requisitioned the police sniffer dog and forensic team to obtain clues, there’s no headway in the investigations.
After giving the Colva residents a patient hearing, the Beanulim MLA said the Colva police seemed busy doing nothing, as he raised concern over the spate of burglaries in the tourist village. “The pattern of burglaries is simple that the miscreants target closed houses of people staying in the UK and abroad. The police should have acted promptly in the first two cases, but in vain,” Venzy said.
Demanding that the SP, South and the Colva PI need to pay high attention to the rising burglaries in Colva, Venzy said the duo needs to be replaced if they cannot find the burglars within 48 hours. “Today the Colva police are under the scanner for the nonsense that is happening in its jurisdiction. The Director General of Police should intervene in the matter and provide justice to the victims of burglaries,” he said.
He questioned: “Why should the people come to the MLA. Am I the Home Minister of Goa or of Benaulim.”
The Benaulim MLA served a 48-hour ultimatum on the Colva police to resolve the case or face gherao on Monday.
