Border check posts, from Pollem to Patradevi and others in between, are mostly unmanned
The cameras are off and the men are sleepy
POLLEM: It’s just past 6 am on a Monday morning at the checkpost. The border crossing welcomes everyone with ‘open arms.’
Just 200 meters away from the Goa border was the Karnatakaborder check post. Here the staff was much more attentive, as one of the staffwas seen keeping a watch on the movement of vehicles. He also operated thebarricade.
As we crossed the Goa border, barely 50 meters away, wenoticed suspicious activity. We discovered a few locals with bikes. They openedthe petrol tanks of the bikes one by one and hurriedly emptied the petrol intoa plastic container. They then proceeded back to Goa to refuel.
Interestingly the nearest petrol pump in Karnataka from theborder is barely a kilometer away.
We intercepted the petrol thieves, who revealed that morethan 500 people were involved in the trade. “We carry out our livelihood on theincome generated from selling the petrol across the border,” said the thieves.
They further revealed that since the Goa police personnel werefast asleep it made their task even easier. This revelation was confirmed whenwe got back to the border check post and indeed found the staff sleeping attheir posts.
After several attempts, by banging the table, one policeofficer woke up grudgingly.
250 cars passed, not one checked!
When we arrived at the outpost, a PWD national highway contractworker C Ravichandran, was on duty preparing a traffic census of vehiclesmoving out or entering Goa. He was present at the check post since 6am, butclaimed that he had not seen anyone manning the barricades.
“I have recorded morethan 250 vehicles passing out of the state but no one checked even one ofthem,” he said. The outpost was actually left unmanned since the early morning.
When police constable D V Gawas was confronted, he said “Weare short on staff but somehow manage the show.” When queried about the armbarrier, the constable said that the superiors had asked them to keep it openfor the convenience of the commuters.
Nothingillegal goes on. So why can’t I sleep?
NAIBAGH:
It’s noon in Pernem. The lone home guard was taking a nap.When he was woken up, he stated that he was all alone and fell asleep. However,he stated “that there was nothing illegal taking place at the check post.”
The staff seemed least bothered about vehicles or peoplecrossing the border next to Pernem-Satarda bridge. Like the other outposts, theexcise department officials here refrained from intercepting anyone and onlywatch for suspicious activity.
Where the check post is a tea stall
PATRADEVI:
The Patradevi checkpost is probably Goa’s most traversedborder outpost, however the security apparatus is extremely thin.
The excise officials are the only ones who check outgoingvehicles but they too are often seen relaxing inside the office.
“This check post is nothing but an old broken tea stall withno amenities whatsoever,” said a senior officer from Excise department. “Weonly check suspicious vehicles since we do not wish to harass anyone,” adds theofficer.
