THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Accusing Canacona police of harassing non-Goan vehicles entering Goa via Polem border, Karwar MLA Satish Sail has asked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and take appropriate action against this arbitrary action.
While vehicles are stopped at Goa’s Polem checkpost, Sail alleged that Canacona police have also been stopping vehicles at Shellim, around 800 metres inside the Polem border check post. The non-functional toll-booth at Shellim was earlier in operation to collect entry tax of outstation vehicles.
“It is not a right practice by police to stop vehicles again at Shellim on the pretext of checking documents, when vehicles coming to Goa through Karnataka go through Karnataka’s Majali Checkpost and are stopped for document verification at Goa’s Polem checkpost by Goa Police, Excise and RTO, located just about 800 metres away.”
“This unhealthy practice by Canacona police amounts to harassment of Karnataka and particularly Karwar vehicles plying to Goa. What is the significance of stopping and checking these same vehicles for document verifications at Shellim,” asked Sail.
“If this trend is not stopped and if Canacona police continue to harass Karnataka vehicles at Shellim, will it be right if Karnataka police stops every Goa vehicle again at Karwar?”
The Karwar MLA stated that Karwar and Goa, particularly Canacona taluka, share a very close relationship and hoped this would be allowed to continue peacefully.
“I hope better sense will prevail and that, Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant initiates appropriate action by stopping this arbitrary practice of Canacona Police. This blatant and arbitrary harassment of motorists will not be tolerated,” warned Karwar MLA Satish Sail.
According to sources, Canacona Police has been accused of placing a police team at the old and abandoned toll booth at Shellim about 800 metres away from Polem Checkpost.
Sources alleged that this police team reportedly stops every outstation vehicle and drivers have alleged undue harassment by this police team, who reportedly levy fines on the pretext of not following one or the other motor vehicle rules and regulations.
