SALCETE REWIND
- February 16, 2021: An armed gang with firearms and swords was in hot pursuit of notorious gangster late Anwar Sheikh on the streets of Fatorda near the Arlem circle. Anwar survived the bid on his life, thanks to the intervention by then Superintendent of police, Sammy Tavares. It’s another matter that six months later, Anwar was brutally murdered by another gang in Haveri-Karnataka
- July 14, 2022: Peace was shattered in the migrant-inhabited Azad Nagar colony at Margao when a brawl between two groups over a petty matter resulted in the murder of 22-year-old youngster, Muktar Badni when he was celebrating his birthday with his friends
MARGAO
Several incidents may be termed as stray instances of gang or group rivalry compared to the open gang wars of the past when one could find gangs operating right from Khareband to Moti Dongor, Calconda to the Housing Board in the battle for supremacy.
The brutal assault on Vijay Kulal by a rival group in Fatorda in the wee hours earlier this week has brought to the fore a host of questions for the men-in-uniform to answer. One, the two groups, police say, hailing from different villages, were returning from Colva side at late hours, but have the men-in-uniform found out why were members out at late hours? Two, is the police aware of youngsters moving around in groups late hours before they get involved in brawls on petty matters, culminating in violent incidents?
How come youngsters are found on bridges and open spaces late at night, consuming alcohol and drugs when public drinking is banned? Is it safe for innocent citizens to travel at late hours when they comes across groups of youngsters on the bridges and road bypasses with liquor bottles?
How many times have MLAs and sarpanchas called for patrolling at bridges, road bypasses and open spaces and whether the men-in-uniform have responded to the cries for help from these elected representatives?
Prevention is better than cure, so says the good adage, but a police officer in the know pointed out that the system is handicapped to nip the troublemakers in the bud for want of logistics and infrastructure.
“When we know that the bridges and bypasses are frequented by youngsters and have become joints for drugs and alcohol consumption, why is the police slow in cracking a whip against this late night activities,” an official said, adding the police department needs to answer this question.
He added: “How come a group of youngsters return from the beachside late hours or in the wee hours when the establishments are required to down shutters before midnight as per the prescribed timings? And, why no nakabandis are set up at important traffic junctions to act as a deterrence for late night movement of groups in the villages and towns.”
Another official stressed that police need to be proactive in dealing with emerging challenges, more so when the offenders are youngsters and the future pillars of society. He, however, pointed out the government take steps to beef up the infrastructure in terms of manpower and logistics such as vehicles for effective patrolling.
