Herald

Calangute, Jun 19: Is this the sort of nightmare that the Goa police are afraid may happen?

On June 8, gangster Joaquim Pereira was stabbed to death in the fields of Merces, and when another man was murdered at Merces on June 12, the Goa police collectively believed that a gang war was about to be unleashed.

But what put the police on tenterhooks was the shooting of Assolda panch Mariano Mascarenhas, by an unidentified man at a bar in Xelvona-Curchorem on February 16.  For Goa police the fact that guns were being openly used came as a shock. A senior police officer said, “The fact that guns were being used to intimidate people added a new dimension to the crime wave in the State.”

Goa police are not new to tackling gang wars. In the 1980’s ‘orgainsations’ were allegedly formed to ‘protect the interest’ of Goans, which were, in fact, a front for criminals, who used guns, to extort money.

Admits Alex Rasquinha, ex-superintendent of police, “the gangs which were started in mid-80’s have been growing in strength since then. There is a saying, those who go by the sword die by the sword. And some of these goons too died in the same fashion.’’

And the police have been witnessing a gradual increase in rifles, revolvers and even semi-automatics weapons in Goa. The attempt by a youth to rob a bank in Margao in 2005 is testimony to the ease with which guns can be procured. The youth used an illegal .22 caliber revolver, which he bought from a Nepali truck driver; the market value of the revolver is about Rs 25,000.

According to sources, Mati Dhongor in Margao, Partagal and Avem in Cotigao, Dabal in Savordem, Netroli in Sanguem, Eddar and Chari wards in Poinguinim, and Khorlim in Mapusa are the places where one could search for illegal guns.  While the police are mum on the sale of illegal guns, DIG Ujjwal Mishra, reluctantly admits, “Yes, there are illegal guns but…” 
 
Sale of illegal guns is nothing new to Goa. Explaining this Rasquinha, says, “In the 90’s, some criminals from the State built links with some sharp shooters and criminals from Mumbai. Some times these locals committed the crime for criminals in Mumbai and these locals also took help from them when required and this gave rise to the illegal arms sale.”

Formerly, guns originated from Germany, Italy, America and Spain, however of late, police sources admit that guns from Yugoslavia and Russia are also surfacing.

Guns on the prowl

Type of Gun       Legal price                                         Black market
 
.22 revolver        Rs 25,000                                         Rs 10,000 to     Rs 2,000
Double barrel     Rs 25,000   to Rs 28,000                    Rs 15,000
Single barrel      Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000                     Rs 7,500
Pistol                Rs 8,000                                          Rs 3,000 to Rs 6000
Pen pistol          Rs 7500                                           Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500
Bullets               Rs 500                                             Rs 120 – 200