the goan I network
MARGAO
Drug abuse and trafficking and manpower shortage plaguing the Cuncolim police station took the centrestage at a public-police interaction which was attended amongst others, by MLA Clafacio Dias, as parents and locals voiced their concern on drug use at public places.
A host of suggestions were made by the speakers attending the meet, with Cuncolim PI Sudesh Naik seeking cooperation from the people to nip the drug abuse in the bud, saying the police has adopted zero tolerance policy towards drug trafficking.
Citizens demanded that the police should make their presence felt in public places and act as a deterrent against drug use. They also urged the police to probe into concerns in certain quarters that ganja might be finding its way in the town along with the vegetable coming to the market from the interior areas of neighbouring Karnataka.
The citizens made a fervent plea to the police to keep an eye at public places such as the Cuncolim bus stand, market area, industrial estate, which has a sizeable population from outside the State by strengthening the beat police. They demanded that the authorities take the initiative to its logical conclusion by holding interactions with the heads of educational institutions, including the higher secondary schools, after the re-opening of the schools in the new academic year.
Retired Superintendent of Police, Tony Fernandes explained to the citizens the working of the police system, where the men-in-uniform act on information passed on by the informants. He said citizens can send across their information directly to the PI or through the informant to facilitate the police to prepare the ground to conduct a raid.
The issue over the manpower shortage also dominated the interaction wherein PI Sudesh pointed out that the Cuncolim police station is indeed facing a manpower shortage.
“As against the sanctioned strength of 14 head constables, Cuncolim police station has only three working HCs, affecting the police functioning,” he said, adding that he has already written to the police higher ups for necessary action.
Even as PI Sudesh assured to notify the beat police officers in the police station area to facilitate citizens to contact them in times of emergencies, citizens suggested to the Police officer to monitor the beat police who are often seen taking shelter under trees and other places instead of moving around in public places.
