In a major crackdown on the recurring vandalism and theft of public telecommunications networks, South Goa Police registered ten separate FIRs across five police stations within a 24-hour window.
The complaints, filed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) officials, detail systematic strikes targeting underground copper cables, optical fiber links, 4G apparatus, pillar tag blocks, and distribution modules, causing financial loss of around 2.5 lakh rupees and widespread disruption to essential subscriber services.
The cases are booked theft, criminal trespass, and mischief—alongside the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Telecommunications Act. The Margao Town and Fatorda jurisdictions bore a heavy brunt of the sabotage, where perpetrators methodically broke open cabinet locks to strip out high-value distribution tag blocks. Margao Town Police registered an offence against two unidentified suspects who dismantled and stole tag blocks from BSNL pillar cabinets, cutting off telephone services in Colmorod and inflicting an estimated loss of Rs 1,25,000.
Margao Town Police has booked a second case involving two unknown suspects who forced open pillar locks to steal tag blocks, disrupting local customer connectivity and causing Rs 15,000 in damages. Fatorda Police registered a case following a complaint by Junior Engineer of BSNL regarding unauthorized tampering with the Sanchayani and Felicinta pillars, where cut wiring and dismantled tag blocks threw regional telecom services into disarray.
Vasco Police has booked three separate incidents spanning impersonation, exchange break-ins, and equipment stripping. On September 18 near the Sub District Hospital in Chicalim, two individuals masquerading as BSNL staff attempted to steal an entire BSNL pillar. Their attempt was foiled after an observant former contract worker intervened. Intruders broke through the main entrance of the BSNL Telephone Exchange in Chicalim prior to August 25, severing and making off with approximately 40 meters of 200-pair underground cable and 10 meters of 800-pair cable valued at Rs 25,000. In another case, unknown thieves cut and carted away vital Krone block modules from copper line pillars across Chicalim and Vasco, knocking out subscriber connectivity across the twin sectors. Verna Police registered two cases involving attacks on newly deployed network infrastructure near the Sancoale Exchange. Thieves cut and decamped with five meters of DC copper power cable supporting 4G equipment on August 7, valued at Rs 2,000. In an earlier incident on July 21, perpetrators attempted to steal 4G optical fiber and power cables valued at Rs 10,000, leaving network lines damaged. Critical feeder pillars were similarly targeted in neighboring coastal and rural pockets of Salcete: According to an FIR registered by Maina Curtorim police, between September 13 and 17, unknown perpetrators vandalized pillar cabinets at Zoriwada, Datta Mandir, and Maruti Mandir in Davorlim. Wires were snapped and tag blocks stolen, interrupting essential phone services and generating damages estimated at Rs 30,000. According to the separate case registered by Colva police, the culprits broke open pillar locks between September 1 and 19, stripping tag blocks and causing Rs 40,000 in losses while severing service lines for local subscribers. While no arrests have been made and no stolen property has been recovered so far, investigating officers across all five stations have launched parallel inquiries to trace the culprits and check local scrap dealers dealing in stolen copper and telecom equipment.
