MARGAO
Margao station road, which had earned notoriety over the years for anti-social activities, looting and petty crimes et al, was back in the news this week again for all the wrong reasons.
If Madgavkars were shocked to hear the news of the murder of a 47-year-old resident of Aquem Sachit Borkar outside the Aquem side of the Margao railway station on Monday, peace was shattered around the old railway station area again as a stranger to the city became latest victim of the gang of criminals involved in looting around the old station area.
In fact, the men-in-uniform seemed to have run out of ideas on how to put an end to the anti-social activities along the station road, especially the half-a-kilometer stretch, from the old railway station area to the new railway station.
People taking a nap inside the railway property at the old station area. Santosh Mirajkar
Exactly a year ago, soon upon his posting as the district police chief, Superintendent of Police, South, Pankaj Kumar Singh visited the old railway station with Margao police station in-charge, PI Sachin Narvekar to review the law and order situation at the area after local traders cried foul over the anti-social activities and inaction by the men-in-uniform.
Take note, the entrance gate to the railway gate was shut as part the measures as it was alleged that the area inside was a hotbed of prostitution and other activities.
A year later, things seemed to have returned to full circle around the area. Just hours before the 47 year old Aquem resident was assaulted at an omlete-pav gadda, outside the railway station, which later resulted in his death, a stranger to the city was waylaid by unknown culprits near the old station area and decamping with cash.
Local traders, who were up in arms over the anti-social activities in the area, said there’s no end to the anti-social activities around the area. “For some days, we could find policemen patrolling the old station area, to drive away the anti-socials. The nuisance and the menace have come back again”, remarked a trader. He added: “The daylight robbery of a stranger around the old railway station area on Sunday evening should come as an eye opener to the men-in-uniform. Every day, we come across anti-social activities around the old station area”.
Residents of Aquem pointed out that the law enforcing agencies should come down heavily on the illegal activities outside the Margao railway station. Rishab Karapurkar, who along with other residents, had come to the Margao railway station demanding registration of Sachit Borkar’s death as murder, said the entire station road area need to be cleaned up from illegal and anti-social activities. “The gadda in question were Sachit was assaulted is den of illegal activities. Please clean up the entire area. We fear for our lives. Today, it is Sachit Borkar, tomorrow it may be one amongst us. The station road has become a danger zone. Stop the illegal sale of liqour and looting of people, including the visitors”, he demanded.
The entrance gate to the railway property at the old railway station area, which is the hotbed of anti-social activities. Santosh Mirajkar
How come the kiosks are open till
midnight? Isn’t curfew in force?
MARGAO: How come the omlette pave gadda outside the Margao railway station was open on Sunday midnight when Sachit Borkar was assaulted after a brawl, though Covid curfew is in force?
Even as this question has come to the fore in the city, Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Kumar Singh is believed to have seen how establishments remain open late in the night along the station road despite section 144 of the CrPC in force in the district.
It’s now apparent that Sachit Borkar was assaulted outside the gadda by accused Laxman Chawan around Sunday midnight when the establishment ought to have remained shut in view of the Covid curfew in force, throwing up questions whether the authorities, including the police have been lenient in cracking the whip against curfew violators.
‘The Goan’ understands that the district police chief, SP Pankaj Singh inspected the place outside Aquem side of Margao railway station on Monday at around 10 pm, only to find gaddas and establishments open.
After the SP, South took serious cognizance of the situation, the Margao police has now started enforcing the curfew in the city, insisting on the closure of the establishments by 9 pm.
Do these criminals have any
connection with Hubli gang?
MARGAO: Is the looting of strangers around the old Margao railway station the handiwork of petty criminals or by an organized gang styled as the Hubli gang?
Hours before Sachit Borkar was assaulted outside the Margao railway station, a stranger was waylaid at the old railway station area, in broad daylight by unknown accused persons. The Margao police later made their presence felt at the area, but not before one more victim fell prey to the criminals involved in looting of strangers to the city.
Sources in the know say the criminals normally target strangers and those crossing the railway tracks between the old station area and the starting point of the Margao flyover. “Strangers who are lured by the sex workers have also fallen victim to these criminals”, the source said.
Sources said the police should find out whether these criminals take shelter at the Khareband-Sirvodem area, and whether they have connection with the Hubli gang.
