74 illegal gun cases in 7 yrs, but cops yet to trace sources

Panaji: Goa police have registered 74 cases of illegal possession of guns in the past seven years, however, the department is yet to trace the suppliers and sources of the illegal arms. This year, Goa police have registered three such cases.
Asked whether police have tracked the suppliers and sources in each of the illegal gun possession cases, chief minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the home minister, said, “Maximum efforts are being made to find the sources.”
To reduce the entry of illegal guns into the state, patrolling at bus stands, railway stations and other vulnerable areas is on day and night, the chief minister said. He said no illegal guns have been seized at the border checkposts.
“Round the clock nakabandi is maintained at the border checkpost with sufficient staff to check vehicles entering the state. As and when information of drug peddling is received, police promptly raid the person/place and cases are registered against the culprits under appropriate sections of the law,” Sawant said.
In June 2020, a gang war broke out in Santa Cruz at night leading to a murder. Two months later, a jeweller was killed around noon in Margao. The common thread in both these incidents was the usage of guns.
A senior police officer said that most locally made guns are manufactured in North India. The officer said that guns are not very expensive in North India and can be bought at anything above Rs 5,000. These guns can be brought into the state by way of railway, bus, etc, the officer said.