It's now a fortnight since alert residents of Benaulim detected an alleged LPG pilferage episode on a LPG cylinder delivery van, but the agencies concerned has a simple question to answer - why did the alleged LPG gas pilferage case not receive the seriousness it deserved from the agencies, be it the Civil Supplies department, police and the companies?
15 days later police yet to begin probe into episode
the goan I network
MARGAO
Otherwise, just consider this: The gas pilferage issue had come to light on July 6 morning at Pedda-Benaulim after a passerby spotted gas delivery men transferring domestic gas into an empty commercial cylinder with a device.
The concerned agencies, however, were quick to pass the buck at each other, wasting valuable time in taking the inquiry to the logical conclusion.
While the Colva police claimed that the men-in-in-uniform were quick to hand over the seized gas cylinders and the devise to the Civil supplies officials on the ground it is not empowered to act under the law in force, the Civic supplies officials initially maintained that instituting criminal proceedings against the gas agency and the delivery men falls within the domain of the police. Six days later, however, the Civil Supplies officials deemed fit to lodge a complaint with the Colva police under the relevant provisions of the Civil Supplies Act, based on which the police finally acted for the first time in the case by registering an FIR against four persons.
Questions are now being asked whether the Colva police has taken the investigations to its logical conclusion after receipt of the complaint from the Civil Supplies department. The Goan understands that the Colva police, after registering the FIR, has now forwarded the case to the Deputy Superintendent of police (DySP), Margao for further investigations. Colva police station in-charge, PI Filomena Costa told The Goan that since a DySP is the designated officer to investigate into such case, the documents and case papers have been forwarded to the DySP's office by the Colva police for investigations.
Incidentally, no full-fledged investigations into the gas pilferage case has commenced at the level of the DySP for want of a full-fledged DySP for Margao. Though Vasco DySP, Lawrence D'Souza, is holding additional charge of Margao, the gas pilferage has not been touched by the officer on grounds that a full-fledged DySP will be in a better position to investigation the case.
Social activist from Benaulim, Roque Fernandes told The Goan that authorities concerned should expedite the ongoing inquiry and bring the culprits to book. "People of Benaulim had caught the delivery men red handed while pilfering the LPG gas. This will stop only if the culprits are brought to book", he said.
