At least two men barged into the BJP’s office in North Goa’s Sanquelim and allegedly decamped with two mobile phones, police said on Wednesday. Police have detained two suspects in the case. Though the burglary is small in nature, the opposition seized on the incident to target the ruling BJP. Sanquelim constituency is represented by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio. According to the police, the incident took place on Sunday, when the office was locked. A police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “The accused trespassed into the party office and stole two mobile phones. Based on CCTV footage from the area, two suspects have been detained. The suspects are from Karnataka. A probe is being conducted.” Police said an FIR was registered after party workers filed a complaint. The Opposition parties claimed that law and order had collapsed in the state. “If the ruling party’s own offices are not safe, it speaks volumes about the current state of policing and governance in Goa. Every passing day, robberies and other crimes are happening, and this government has no control over them,” said Amarnath Panjikar, media cell chairperson of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. “Despite repeated assurances, the state government has failed to ensure basic public safety. There is a need to strengthen local police stations with manpower and resources. Goa cannot afford to slide further into lawlessness,” he said. The Revolutionary Goans Party echoed similar concerns: “Now, BJP office in CM’s constituency robbed. If even the ruling party is not safe, what about common Goenkars?”
