Transfer of Colva PI within 5 months raises questions

MARGAO
Mystery shrouds the sudden transfer of Colva police station in-charge, PI Vikram Naik, to the Valpoi police station, as he has just completed 4–5 months in office after assuming charge earlier this year.
The in-charge of Valpoi police station, PI Diptesh Shirodkar, has been transferred to the Colva police station.
While PI Vikram Naik was still holding charge of the Colva police station on Monday, as he is yet to be relieved to date, questions are being asked in police and local circles over the decision to shunt the Colva police station in-charge within months of assuming office.
Incidentally, PI Vikram had assumed charge of the Colva police station after the then police station in-charge, PI Ritesh Chari, was transferred to the South Goa headquarters after a couple of police constables were found involved in a corruption case.
In the instant case, police higher-ups could not cite the exact reason behind the transfer of PI Vikram, saying they too have been trying to figure out the possible reasons behind the sudden transfer order.
While questions are being raised over the transfer order, more so when the election code of conduct ahead of the Zilla Panchayat polls is in force, sources informed that the transfer order is reportedly dated November 28, indicating the transfer order was technically issued before the code came into force on Saturday.
Sources in the police department pointed out that Colva police station is one police station in Salcete where the in-charges are shunted out even before they complete three years of service. In fact, one police officer, who was transferred and posted at Colva in the recent past, could not even assume charge after strong objections from a politician.
That’s not all. Apart from managing the pulls and pressures from the political class, those manning the Colva police station have to grapple with banned dhirios. The police officers, sources said, are left with no option but to juggle their way through requests pouring in from bullfight lovers spread across political camps.

Sarpanch flags staff shortage at Colva PS
MARGAO: Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz on Monday made a strong plea to the government to fill up the vacant posts at the Colva police station, saying an understaffed police station having jurisdiction over the entire Salcete beach belt from Cavelossim to Majorda does not augur well for policing in a tourism belt.
The Cavelossim Sarpanch had gone to the Colva police station on Monday along with local bus commuters over alleged harassment meted out by a couple of private bus operators.
While demanding action against bus operators harassing the public, the Sarpanch has threatened to take to the streets if action is not forthcoming from the police and the RTO.
He, however, acknowledged that the Colva police is grossly understaffed, insisting that the government should deploy the sanctioned strength of policemen at the police station. “Salcete’s coastal belt is known for tourism-related activities and business. The belt is facing new challenges, which need to be addressed by the men in uniform. However, we often find the police complaining of manpower shortage. To tide over the problem, the government should deploy manpower as per the sanctioned strength,” Dixon demanded.