MARGAO
Has the notorious Chor Bazaar -- where stolen mobiles and other consumer durables, besides second hand goods are offered for sale -- lost its appeal in the commercial capital?
No, not at all, say local residents as they claimed that the infamous bazaar along the station road, Margao has been only growing from strength to strength right under the nose of the Margao police every Sunday.
The only difference one can find along the station road at dawn is that the vendors, apparently in connivan
ce with the beat police, have shifted the bazaar towards the old station area and the internal road heading to the Gandhi market at Sambari book store, giving a false impression that the police has cracked a whip against the Chor Bazaar.
When The Goan team descended along the station road before dawn on Sunday, a lathi wielding beat police officer was seen around, only threatening action against the vendors after seeing the media around. This particular beat police officer, is blamed by the local residents for the Chor Bazaar activity taking place right under the nose of the men-in-uniform.
Questions are also being raised amongst the beleaguered residents as to why the Margao police has been repeatedly found wanting in dealing with the bazaar with an iron hand. The police lethargy has been found all the more surprising given that goods stolen in many petty burglaries was often recovered from shady characters operating the market along the station road.
Around a month ago, a local resident putting up along the station road had knocked the doors of the Superintendent of Police, South Arvind Gawas, besides Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Margao, DySP Raju Raut Desai with a plea to stop the nuisance, but in vain. "I had knocked the doors of the district police chief and the DySP. I was assured that the beat police attached to Margao police station has been instructed to crack a whip against the bazaar. What we have observed is that the bazaar has been moved towards the old station area and the activity continues unabated," the resident informed The Goan.
Second hand mixers, mobiles and other goods were kept for sale at the old station area by the vendors. Taken aback by the presence of The Goan team at the spot at dawn, the beat police officer and a constable, tried to convey a message that the vendors do not pay heed to warnings to disperse. Caught on the wrong foot, the lathi wielding policemen tried to stop the activity, making one wonder how the bazaar could be carried out all along right under the nose of the men-in-uniform.
What's interesting to note is that while one may hardly find garment vendors along the station road, these vendors are found operating along the internal road leading to the Gandhi market via the Sambari book store.
When The Goan contacted Margao police station in-charge, PI C L Patil to shed light on the Chor Bazaar, he promised that the Margao police would launch a coordinated action to put an end to the illegal activity. "This activity takes place only on early Sunday mornings. In the past, the police had acted against the activity. Now, we will ensure that the bazaar is stopped totally," PI Patil added.
When The Goan team descended along the station road before dawn on Sunday, a lathi wielding beat police officer was seen around, only threatening action against the vendors after seeing the media around. This particular beat police officer, is blamed by the local residents for the Chor Bazaar activity taking place right under the nose of the men-in-uniform.
Questions are also being raised amongst the beleaguered residents as to why the Margao police has been repeatedly found wanting in dealing with the bazaar with an iron hand. The police lethargy has been found all the more surprising given that goods stolen in many petty burglaries was often recovered from shady characters operating the market along the station road.
Around a month ago, a local resident putting up along the station road had knocked the doors of the Superintendent of Police, South Arvind Gawas, besides Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Margao, DySP Raju Raut Desai with a plea to stop the nuisance, but in vain. "I had knocked the doors of the district police chief and the DySP. I was assured that the beat police attached to Margao police station has been instructed to crack a whip against the bazaar. What we have observed is that the bazaar has been moved towards the old station area and the activity continues unabated," the resident informed The Goan.
Second hand mixers, mobiles and other goods were kept for sale at the old station area by the vendors. Taken aback by the presence of The Goan team at the spot at dawn, the beat police officer and a constable, tried to convey a message that the vendors do not pay heed to warnings to disperse. Caught on the wrong foot, the lathi wielding policemen tried to stop the activity, making one wonder how the bazaar could be carried out all along right under the nose of the men-in-uniform.
What's interesting to note is that while one may hardly find garment vendors along the station road, these vendors are found operating along the internal road leading to the Gandhi market via the Sambari book store.
When The Goan contacted Margao police station in-charge, PI C L Patil to shed light on the Chor Bazaar, he promised that the Margao police would launch a coordinated action to put an end to the illegal activity. "This activity takes place only on early Sunday mornings. In the past, the police had acted against the activity. Now, we will ensure that the bazaar is stopped totally," PI Patil added.
