PANAJI
Goa’s crime map has once again thrown a spotlight on a cluster that police know all too well. The State’s latest records have identified 222 habitual offenders and history-sheeters, with the highest cluster of 24 falling under the Old Goa police station – an area that spans St Cruz, Chimbel and the Indiranagar slum -- long regarded as a crucible of street gangs and volatile rivalries -- among others.
Police records also indicate that over the past seven months alone, more than 100 suspects from this belt have been rounded up, with several placed under preventive arrest.
The reputation is not new – the Covid year 2020’s St Cruz shootout remains a defining reminder of these entrenched networks. Among those arrested was Marcelino Dias, who, according to police, allegedly fired the fatal shot that killed his own associate, Sonu Yadav, during a botched attempt to intimidate rival Imran Bepari.
The circle of violence continues to resurface. When social activist Rama Kankonkar was assaulted in Caranzalem on September 18 this year, several of the accused traced back to the same St Cruz history-sheeter network.
Just 48 hours back, a fresh combing and foot-patrolling drive across Chimbel and St Cruz -- covering Indiranagar, Chimbel Quarry, Dhobhi Ghat and Santaban -- resulted in 45 being rounded up for verification, of whom 18 were taken to the police station for detailed antecedent checks, and nine were subsequently placed under preventive arrest under the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
On Tuesday, the police arrested six persons from St Cruz, including its panch, under preventive measures for allegedly abusing and threatening some members of the RGP.
In May, the North district saw 11 new history sheets opened in a single week, bringing the tally to 135. The latest review shows a marginal dip to 132 in North Goa and 90 in South Goa -- a total of 222 across the State.
