MAPUSA
Revealing what was till now an open secret of the Goa Police, the Director-General of Police, Mukesh Kumar Meena on Wednesday said police in Goa refrained from registering theft cases apparently to keep the crime rate under control.
The DGP also debunked the perception that crimes have increased in Goa and stated that crime detection rate was high in the State.
“When I first joined, I found that Goa Police would not register theft cases. Only if the robber was caught the case would be registered. I have now instructed the police that if anyone comes to the police station or calls up the control room, a case has to be promptly registered,” Meena said.
He said he later discovered that police refrained from registering the cases as they were scared that they would be pulled up for the rise in the number of cases.
The DGP was interacting with the media after meeting the police staff at the Mapusa Police Station and later interacting with some prominent persons of Mapusa, including the merchants and jewellers.
Meena said that there was a wrong impression among people that crimes have increased in Goa.
“No crime has increased. Whatever crimes that took place have been detected. The Margao jeweller case has been detected. Apart from that, other cases have also been detected,” he said.
He said policing was a huge challenge when there was an influx of people but the police were doing a good job.
“Goa is such a big city...Migrants are coming. The number of tourists is also going up. Crimes should not take place. But after a crime takes place, the police must detect the crime which the police are doing,” he said.
The top police officer informed that Goa Police has done a commendable job during the pandemic.
“Just like health workers, police personnel have put their lives at risk and worked during the pandemic and got infected,” he said.
According to the DGP, around 900 police personnel, including him, were infected with the virus.
The DGP informed that Mapusa businessmen have demanded an increase in police patrolling and installation of CCTV cameras at key points.
“We will send an extra contingent of personnel to Mapusa Police Station in another five to six days from the police headquarters,” he assured.
Superintendent of Police Utkrisht Prasoon, DySP Gajanan Prabhudesai and PI Tushar Lotlikar were also present.
