PANAJI
In a sudden intensive drive, three police stations in the Mapusa sub-division arrested history-sheeters with a long criminal record for serious offenses such as drugs, murder, attempt to murder and property fraud among others.
Additionally, dozens of hawkers and vagabonds were also taken into custody under preventive measures as the action ensued after Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo raised serious concerns about the growing illegal hawkers and touts menace in the coastal belt.
Notorious criminal Omkar Palyekar and former deputy sarpanch Cleophus Fernandes top the list as a maximum of 20 arrests were recorded in Anjuna alone including those involved in illegal businesses. The accused were, however, released on a bond after being produced before the sub-divisional magistrate of Mapusa.
The crackdown comes at a time when the State is gearing up to host eight high-profile meetings of the G-20 Summit slated to begin on April 17, 2023.
Besides Palyekar, Fernandes who was charged with attempting to kill Lobo in 2014; Pravin Bhatkhande, Pranesh Divkar, Shailendra Garad, Parimal Pandit, Rashid Siddiqui and Swapnil Masurkar are amongst others having heinous crimes against them, some of which are under investigation while the remaining are at various stages of trial in different courts.
“They were produced before the SDM where they submitted a bond for good behaviour and to maintain peace in the society,” SDPO Mapusa Jivba Dalvi who headed the drive told reporters at a briefing, on Tuesday.
In a separate drive against illegal activities on the beaches and public places, separate teams of Anjuna, Mapusa and Colvale police stations arrested over 25 hawkers and released them after a bond to the SDM. “Priority will be given to conduct such drives in the future,” Dalvi said.
