One year on, Dona Paula and Mapusa dacoits continue to remain at large

Panaji: A year on, Goa police remain clueless and far from about arresting the dacoits who struck two residences at Dona Paula and Mapusa. Both the cases have now been transferred to the crime branch for further investigation .

In both cases, police have arrested those who allegedly provided information and logistical support to the main accused, but none of the principal offenders has been nabbed so far.

North Goa SP Harishchandra Madkaikar confirmed that both cases have been handed over to the crime branch.

In April last year, an elderly Dempo couple underwent a traumatic ordeal when three dagger-wielding robbers broke into their Dona Paula residence between midnight and 4am. The trio tied up 77-year-old Jaiprakash Dempo and his 71-year-old wife, Padmini, after assaulting the security guard. The crime came to light when a domestic help arrived in the morning, freed the couple, and alerted police. Nearly six months later, police arrested a person allegedly involved in identifying the house.

In Oct last year, at least six armed, burqa-clad individuals robbed around Rs 35 lakh in cash and valuables at a house in Ganeshpuri, Mapusa, between 3am and 5am. The gang, armed with a knife and iron rods, held Dr Mahendra Ghanekar hostage, ate food at the house, and forced his elderly mother to make tea. Family members — the doctor, his wife, his mother, and another relative — were tied with bedsheets and a sari, and gagged with pillow covers. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the case.

Former SP Bossuet Silva criticised policing practices, saying personnel lack sincerity in field duties.

“What is happening today is after duty, police personnel leave. There should be proper briefings and there should be twice roll call like how it used to happen earlier,” Silva said.

He alleged that FIRs in theft and burglary cases are often delayed.

“Once the accused is caught, police register FIRs and sudden rise in detection raises panic in public as it is connected to sudden rise in crime,” Silva said.

Silva warned that failure to promptly register crimes weakens investigation.

“If there is no registration of crime, police will not make any effort to detect the case, and it results in an increase in confidence of the accused,” he said. “If there are no efforts to trace the accused, then small-time burglars turn into big-time burglars. Police should register the crime the day it is reported so that police become active to trace the accused.”