Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai making a point on the rising crimes on Saturday. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said Goa has become a soft state for crime in view of the series of murders that have rock Goa in the last few days, saying people of Goa are demanding immediate action and police accountability.
Addressing the media, the Goa Forward chief said a wave of alarming murders has recently shaken the state of Goa, leaving the public shocked and deeply anxious.
“Just in the last 4 days, 6 murders have been committed in the state. The approach taken by the state government in addressing these crimes, including incidents of sexual assault and harassment against both residents and tourists, will lead to an undesirable culture conducive to further such offences, and contribute to a negative image of Goa. I had previously raised concerns about the rising crime rates in the state, and the recent incidents only reaffirm the urgent need for effective action and accountability from the authorities”, he said.
Demanding to know the response of the police in addressing the alarming surge in crime, Sardesai said the people of goa are deeply troubled by these crimes, saying “Today, it's migrants who are the victims, but tomorrow it could be our fellow Goans”.
Saying the Director General of Police (DGP) of Goa is an experienced officer who is actively engaged on social media platforms, Sardesdai, however, said instead of promptly addressing the concerns and assuring Goans, the DGP has posted a tweet regarding public grievances.
“While such endeavours are commendable, the need of the hour is a comprehensive response from the DGP outlining the measures he intends to take to curb crimes in the state”, he said.
Saying the Home Minister's silence on these crimes is worrying, Sardesai said It is imperative that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant makes a public statement detailing his plans to address alarming rise in the crime rate, adding that the Goa police must shift its focus from revenue generation to tackling crimes effectively.
The Goa Forward Chief has suggested a couple of measures, including stricter surveillance on migrants to keep gangs at bay; enhanced beat policing and local intelligence to provide crucial insights into local activities and to deter criminal elements; CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas to act as a deterrent and provide valuable evidence and setting up a women police stations across the state to tackle crimes against women.
