In the wake of crime being reported by unknown persons, who temporarily stay in and around the port town in rented premises, tenant verification is an issue that will be taken seriously by the Vasco police from now on.
Already, three cases have been booked in the month of December under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. As per records, Vasco police has sent 644 forms of tenants for verification, 158 of strangers, nine of servants, and 22 of ‘zamats’ in the month of January.
The verification of about 600 migrants was also done. According to sources, “It is the beat police who are active in all parts of the jurisdiction of the police station who are responsible to ensure that the verification is being done.”Sources said, “Though there is so much of awareness being created, many of the owners, especially the educated ones, fall short in complying with the rules.”
The south Goa collectorate has issued the order for verification and those who don’t do it are booked under Section 188. Later, the court decides the monetary punishment of the owner depending upon the tenant he has sheltered. If the tenant is involved in any crime, the punishment is hiked.
Sources reported that in the slums of Baina and Mangor, there are so many shanties let out to the migrants that it goes unreported. Criminals from other states prefer to take shelter in slums so that they can do away easily with their identity, say sources.
The verifications here are not satisfactory, officials said. There is no record of who and how many come and go. Sources said, “Once the verification forms are submitted to the police along with the photographs and details of the tenant, police sends across the message to the concerned police stations of the mentioned villages of the tenants and verifies about the person. Many a times, wanted criminals are nabbed by the police as a result of verification.”
Many a times, the tenants get themselves involved in crimes or fights. In such cases, if the verification is done by the owner, his or her responsibility is over. If not, charges are also booked against the owner.
The process is a simple one. The owner has to fill up the tenant verification form and also submit identity proof of every individual tenant along with their photographs and submit it to the verification cell of their concerned police station.
Source: indiatimes
