Even after two and half years of the fiasco on the busy national highway (NH) at Porvorim – the infamous incident that triggered a diplomatic row between the Goan and Nigerian government – 51 Nigerian and the lone Ghanian accused in the case are enjoying their “vacation” in the coastal State. Goa Police admit they cannot keep a constant tab on the movement of these accused as majority are out on bail, unless they are caught in other crimes.
Thanks to the yet unfulfilled promise of the successive governments over the setting up a detention centre, such nuisance-makers continue to live in Goa without actual documents like passport and visa.
“Certain African nationals are a major menace. There are several cases of their involvement in heinous crimes like murder, assault, threats, drug peddling and overstaying. They deliberately get involved in criminal activities to flash FIR copies and/or court summons as their ‘visa’ to prolong their stay here,” a senior police officer told Herald.
This was quite evident when Nigerians, having absolutely no fear of the police went on a rampage after their compatriot Obodo Uzoma Simeon was murdered in a gang war at Parra on the night of October 30, 2013. They were booked for attempted murder and destroying property despite which they remain unfazed. “It doesn’t matter to them what charges are slapped against them because they are aware of the loophole in the system. Their sole purpose is to have criminal record,” the officer said.
Of those booked for the grave offenses, of October 2013, over a dozen already are habitual offenders, who either have cases pending investigation or undergoing trials.
“A lack of a detention centre gives them confidence to do illegal activities. It wouldn’t take us time to lodge them in the detention centre and initiate their deportation process once they are booked for any offense. But for this, we need a detention centre,” North Goa’s Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar told Herald.
He conceded that it is not possible to keep a track of these accused booked for the October 31, 2013 ruckus. “They don’t have permanent address in Goa as they shift their locations (premises rented out by locals),” the officer added.
Their crime details are nonetheless submitted to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, which eventually goes to the Nigerian Embassy.
As of now, among the total 51 Nigerian accused involved in the Porvorim NH violence, six were thereafter arrested for allegedly peddling drugs while two are behind bars facing trial.
After a long wait, a chargesheet into the case is expected next week. The investigation saw a change in at least three investigating officers owing to transfers of police inspectors from 2013-till date. Porvorim police inspector Jivba Dalvi, who took over the investigation a couple of weeks back, said,
“The Investigation is over. We have prepared a watertight case against them and charge sheet will be filed in the coming week,” he said. The 300-page (approx) chargesheet contains statements of all the witnesses, including media persons, and evidences in form of video footage sourced from the news channels.
Armed with FIR copies, the Nigerians’ temporary addresses have been verified. “We have verified documents of the premises rented out to them and these are found to be correct after a personal inspection,” Dalvi said.
The officer also admitted that it was not possible to keep a track of individual Nigerians unless their involvement in other crimes crop up or court summons are served.
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No detention centre for foreign national offenders
For the Goa government, clearing the proposal converting the 17th century Aguada Jail into a tourist hub was more important than its very own suggestion – proposed in 2013 – to set up a detention centre for foreign national offenders.
Since May 30, 2015, the prison no longer houses inmates after their transfer to the year-old Correctional Home at Colvale. The decks were cleared to turn their proposed project for setting up ‘Illegal Immigrants’ Deportation Cell’ into a reality but heritage tourism project came its way that was subsequently given priority.
“There was a proposal from the tourism department and Kala Academy to hand over the premises for their activity, although proposal for a detention centre was made much earlier. But tourism project superseded other proposals,” a government source said adding, “The premise is spacious and housing detention centre might not have been a good idea as an inmate would serve maximum three months before being deported to respective country.”
Earlier, the State had identified five premises of government primary schools at Cansa-Thivim, Khelwada-Pilna, Camurlim, Azossim and Chorao, which were subsequently inspected by a team of Goa police, Collectorate and other officials in August 2013. However, neither of these five places have been finalized so far.
