MARGAO
Just imagine a situation when a police sub-inspector had to rush to a spot in his private vehicle for want of an official vehicle.
The Margao police faced this embarrassing situation when the PSI and a lady police rushed to the Margao Municipal Council square late Monday evening after a group of tourists and a rent-a-car operator came face to face over a dispute regarding damage to a vehicle.
This has only thrown up a question whether the Margao police station, whose jurisdiction extends from Margao and right up to Navelim, Aquem-Baixo, Telaulim and Dramapur-Sirlim, is ill-equipped with vehicles.
Inquiries have only revealed that the Margao police had only one vehicle on Monday, a robot vehicle, which normally rushes to attend to calls in the police jurisdiction. Tuesday saw the Margao police getting its second vehicle, a Bolero jeep, which was in a garage for repairs. Sources in the know, however, pointed out that the Margao police should at least have at its disposal dedicated four-wheelers, besides the robot vehicle to meet the growing requirements.
An official pointed out that if one vehicle goes to the court for remand of accused or takes the victims for medical examination, there’s no dedicated second vehicle to transport the police to the scene of the crime.
“Sometimes, the police officials are required to go to courts with the official vehicle. This may not leave a spare vehicle at the police station. Hence, it is in the fitness of things the department sanctions at least one more dedicated vehicle to the Margao police station”, the official said.
Sources also pointed out that the lone dedicated police jeep at the disposal of the Margao station is around five years old and is witnessing breakdowns due to wear and tear. “We only hope the police department will take cognizance of the shortage of vehicles and sanction at least one more vehicle for Margao,” sources added.
