en as the Chief Election Commissioner has said that a tab would be kept on the airports, railway stations and inter-state terminuses from where the money may come in for use during the state assembly elections, there is no police or security force guarding such strategic places in the state to check the flow of money.
There is no security force present at the inter-state KTC bus terminus in Panaji. (Nandesh Kambli)
A survey conducted by this paper on Monday by visiting the Karmali railway station, the inter-state bus terminus in Panaji and the Kadamba bus terminus in the city revealed that there was practically no security placed at these locations.The in-charge of the Karmali railway station, Mr Nitin Malshekar said that since the past several months there has been no security at the railway station and added that earlier there was a police counter with a metal detector gate at the station but it was dismantled and taken away during the International Film Festival of India.Mr Malshekar further said that the railway authorities had written to the police with regard to this but till date they have not received any reply. He said that there were some security men posted at the railway station only during the Christmas period and on the occasion of the New Year but they were soon shifted from there.A source attached to the Old Goa police station said that they have not received any such guidelines from the Election Commission with regard to checking the flow of illegal money at strategic spots. The source further said that no steps have been initiated by the department with regard to security at the railway station.
Interestingly, a Panaji police source stated that outpost would be created soon at the Santa Cruz junction as per direction received from the EC.At the inter-state bus terminus in the city too, there were no policemen to keep a check on the flow of money. Besides, the counter especially meant for security of tourists was without any policemen. The Kadamba bus stand too seemed vulnerable with no security force there to check the flow of illegal money during polls. The Superintendent of Police, North, Mr Waman Tari said that they had no say in election-related matters and added that one could contact the election officer with regard to poll-related matters.
Courtesy: NT
