Irate mob topples car in
port town; 2 arrested
----- AS IT HAPPENED
>> Seated in his car and clicking pictures of traffic violators, Almeida is confronted by some people------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> After he is questioned about the pictures clicked, an angry mob gathers at site within minutes
>> Almeida refuses to come out of the car and tries to drive away, but is blocked with a motorcycle
>> People begin smashing the windows of the car with helmets to force Almeida out of the car
VASCO: Growing anger against traffic sentinels across the State took a violent turn on Wednesday evening, when a mob targetted a traffic sentinel from Shantinagar-Vasco near the Tilak Maidan on Wednesday morning.
The irate crowd of about 50 people smashed the window panes and toppled the car belonging to the traffic sentinel, Alfredo Almeida, after being outraged with Almeida for clicking pictures of motorists violating traffic rules.
It was the timely intervention of Vasco Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo that saved Almeida, as he was still in the car when the mob began smashing the glass of Almeida's car with helmets in full public view, even as onlookers watched the episode.
Vasco police later registered a case and arrested two people identified by Almeida as a part of the mob involved in the incident.
According to Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant, Almeida was seated in his car and was clicking pictures of traffic violators, when he was confronted by some people who began questioning him about the pictures. Within minutes, an angry mob gathered at the site.
Even as Almeida was inside his car with his mobile, an angry mob demanded that he come out of the vehicle. Almeida, however, refused to come out and locked the doors and tried to drive away, but one person blocked the car with his bike.
People then began smashing the windows of the car with helmets to force Almeida out of the car. Almeida, however, alerted Vasco PI Nolasco Raposo, who rushed to the site and took Almeida to Vasco police station. Vasco police also seized the bike, after Almeida identified the two-wheeler which blocked the car, and arrested the two-wheeler owner.
But by the time Vasco police could come and take custody of the car, the mob toppled Almeida's car, further damaging the vehicle.
An offence was registered against the mob at the Vasco police station, after Almeida complained that the mob threatened him and damaged his car.
Vasco police booked offences under Section 143, 341, 506, 506(ii), 352, 427 read with 149 IPC and arrested two persons in connection with the incident.
The whole incident was photographed and shot on camera soon went viral on social media.
“We are in the process of identifying more people on the basis of photos and we are tracing more people who can be identified by the complainant,” said DySP Sawant.
South Goa SP Arvind Gawas also visited Vasco to take stock of the situation and was engaged in detailed talks with Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant and Vasco PI Nolasco Raposo.
On hearing news that SP Gawas was at Vasco police station, a number of angry residents along with their challans assembled at the Vasco police station to express their views regarding the traffic sentinel scheme.
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Agitated locals pounce on a
Mapusa shop owner; 1 held
MAPUSA: Agitated locals on Wednesday mobbed and questioned the owner of Metro Parts Corner in Mapusa, after suspecting him to be a traffic sentinel.
Later, based on the complaint of the shop owner, Mapusa police booked and arrested a Khorlim resident for threatening the owner.
The accused came to the shop and garlanded the owner, while also allegedly threatening him with dire consequences for clicking photos of unsuspecting riders.
At least 25 people assembled in front of the Metro Parts Corner, near the old municipality, Mapusa and questioned the owner, suspecting him to be a traffic sentinel and clicking photos of unsuspecting helmetless riders.
What aroused the suspension of the agitators was the background of photos sent to offenders who were challaned by traffic cops, which indicated that the sentinel was clicking photos from the shop.
The crowd sobered down only after the owner explained that he was not a traffic sentinel.
“Almost all the challans received by the public are for not wearing helmet. I have received four challans so far,” said one person showing his challan.
Based on the shop owner, Shaikh Jikaria’s complaint, police arrested Santosh Fulari of Khorlim-Mapusa on charges of threatening the shop owner.
The accused has been arrested under Sections 146, 147 and 506 r/w 149 of the IPC and further investigations are on.
Goa Police introduced the Traffic Sentinel Scheme with the objective to enable and encourage citizens to participate and assist traffic police in law enforcement.
Under the scheme any person registered as traffic sentinel can report traffic violation by capturing the photo or video of the defaulting vehicle and send it through Whatsapp or send an e-mail or post on Facebook Page of Goa Traffic Police.
