Thursday, January 17, 1.30pm:
Assagao:
Bloody trail: It’s a quiet afternoon, until a painful screamrents the air. A scooterist reports the scream and the police are summoned.When the police ask the man who reported the scream why his shirt had bloodspots, he goes pale, jumps on his scooter and flees.
Saturday, January 19, 11.50pm
Dando, Siolim: Killed blow by blow as a cop watched: ArunToraskar makes his way home after closing down his shack. When he’s about 50metres away from his house, he is confronted by a group of over a dozen men.Arun had a run it with some of the men earlier in the day, when he successfullystopped them from expanding the local temple, without the consent of the templeauthorities. One man gets behind Arun and holds him down while the other menbeat him senseless with iron rods. Another man smashes a hammer into Arun’shead. The men flee as Arun’s friends and family rush to help him. He isdeclared dead on arrival at the local hospital
Flashback to Monday, September 24, 2011: Around 1.30pm
Savia finds her neighbour Rita Almeida lying on the floor inher house. Blood oozes out of her nose and mouth. Less than a few minuteslater, Rita’s live in partner Ubaldo walks in with police personnel. Medicsdeclare Rita dead and suggest that a doctor be called. The police declare it acase of death due to an asthmatic attack, contradicting the facts above. Theyalso register the FIR on September 25, claiming that they only got to knowabout the murder on that day
From Anjuna to Siolim to Assagao and all other places inbetween, the knives are out. Like a battering ram, victims are falling by thewayside. At home, in the woods and on the road. The motives aren’t clear andthe triggers unknown. The guardians of civil society, the police force, havelooked as helpless as the public when it comes to the spiraling crime rates.
According to SP North, Vishram Borkar the investigation inmurder cases are on the right track. The facts state otherwise.
In the Rita Almeida case, the police locked themselves inthe house along with the accused, the live in partner Ubaldo, for a few hours.While Ubaldo has been arrested, the chargesheet has not been filed. There isevidence of clear collusion with the authorities.
Rekha Ramchandra Kharat was the deceased girl found inAssagao, her alleged killer, Ranjit Tuyekar, is still at large, even as thepolice claim that he hasn’t crossed the border and is still in Goa.
In Arun Toraskar’s case, a constable was also a witness tothe murder, since he was stationed at the temple after the confrontationearlier in the day. He remained a mute spectator. Thirteen suspects have beendetained but Arun Toraskar lost his life because the police stood by andwatched as his life was lost, blow by blow.
The bodies keep piling up. On Thursday, January 24, AnarLaximan Sawkar was found in the room of her house in Khorlim, by her brother.Her sister, Dharshan, who is the main accused in her murder, tried to commitsuicide by jumping into the family well. Her attempt failed and she was takeninto custody and sent to the local Asilo hospital, where she is recuperating.The case is under investigation as of January 24.
Anjuna’s deputy sarpanch, Savio Almeida, is a worried man.“It’s a shameful affair,” he says, “We don’t feel safe here in Anjuna. The seriesof murder cases and the lack of fear by criminals proves the inefficiency ofthe police. Proper attention from police higher ups and strong political willis the need of the hour.
Rajan Ghate, former NCP youth president, from Siolim concurs, “The police’s attitude to workshould change. Long ago, they were identified with law and order but when youstart pimping, selling drugs and hanging around with criminals, why wouldanybody respect you? Anjuna is no more the safe, friendly and secure place it usedto be, with a little help from the police.”
The fact remains that it is but only the beginning of 2013the crime charts already have stats. The Mapusa sub division of Anjuna, Mapusaand Pernem police stations have their understaffed hands full.
Murders in last three years in Mapusa
Year Reported Detected Status
2013 - -
2012 3 2 Onechargesheeted and two are under investigation
2011 4 3 Threechargesheeted and one is under investigation
Murders in last three years in Anjuna
Year Reported Detected Status
2013 2 1 Bothare under investigation
2012 3 2 Two chargesheetedand one is under investigation
2011 1 1 C final
Murders in last three years in Pernem
Year Reported Detected Status
2013 1 1 Pendinginvestigation
2012 2 1 Both are pendinginvestigation
2011 - - -
Whereare the staff?
Policestation - Total staff strength “ Available staff
Anjuna 59 42
Mapusa 112 68
Pernem 65 29
*Therest of the staff have been deployed for various other duties at police outposts,robin patrolling, SDPO and SP offices, hospitals, courts, Mamlatdar treasuryand as staff for minister’s security.
