The govt’s responsibility lies in tackling migrant workers with criminal tendencies
The double murder in Saligao, which came as a shock not only to the people of Saligao but also to Goa Police, has only served to fan two perceptions – one, the law and order situation in the state is crumbling and that there is no fear of law among the criminally minded; two, migrants are increasingly involved in crimes in the state. To buttress these thoughts are the back-to-back crimes that the state has seen over the past two months. Among the list of sensational crimes witnessed recently are a dacoity in Mapusa, a brutal attack on an activist in Caranzalem, the death of a senior citizen who protested hill-cutting in Pernem, gun-firing incidents and a spate of murders. Goa Police, however, insist that there has been no increase in crimes in the state.
One may argue: Why should the government be blamed for a murder? The government, which is responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring people’s safety, gets blamed because the police have failed to instil fear in the minds of criminals and potential offenders. The public’s perception of the police remains low.
Last month, the high-profile burglary in Mapusa, where the inmates of the house, including two doctors, were tied up by dacoits before they fled with the booty, created a wave of fear, particularly among senior citizens. Night patrolling was intensified only after public outcry over the increase in burglaries and murders. Police made some headway in the case, arresting two accused even as the mastermind is yet to be caught. The Saligao double murder may pose a major challenge for the police, as the migrant worker who committed the crime disappeared from the scene. Be that as it may, it is the duty of the police to detect the crime.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the rise in crimes happens mainly due to migrants. The question is, other than asking house owners to conduct tenant verification, what else can be done? Undoubtedly, landlords must face action for failing to submit tenant details to the police. This verification helps police to verify the antecedents of the tenants. It’s good that the government has come out with an app for tenant verification. However, considering the way the situation has unfolded, it is important that the government take additional initiatives to curb the influx of criminal elements from other parts of the country. Being a small state, it is easy for criminals to escape after committing a crime, mainly by train. Hence, the responsibility of the Goa Police should be much greater.
The government will have to brainstorm to find ways to screen migrant labour. With the overemphasis on tourism – the mainstay of Goa’s economy – there has been a spurt in the inflow of migrant labour. The demand is high; hardly any entrepreneur in the sector can do without migrant labour for manual work. Most of them come to Goa through contacts already working here. Those with criminal backgrounds should be brought under police radar.
Goa has the ‘beat police’ system and perhaps neighbourhood policing too. Are they not expected to know whether any new tenants have come into their area of jurisdiction? Could this be done in coordination with local panchayat? In the past, terrorists have stayed in Goa without the knowledge of the police. Two days ago, the Goa government invoked the NSA, and it is expected that criminals will be put behind bars. However, it is important that the law is not misused.
In the Saligao double murder, the role of a migrant labourer who was engaged by the victim has come into focus. Goa has been facing this issue for a long time, and if no hard measures are taken, the situation could worsen.
