The statement comes at a time when there are reports from Intelligence agencies that Goa, being a preferred holiday destination, is topmost on ISIS hit list. This, however, is not the first time Goa has been found to be on the terror hit list. Similar warnings from Intelligence agencies have been coming for years, yet the response to these threats from the government or the Goa police has been lukewarm.
With threats coming frequently, Goa by now should have equipped itself for any emergency. But that doesn’t seem to have been done. Speaking to the media at his farewell ceremony, the IPS officer, who took charge of Goa Police in 2014, said the ATS lacks proper infrastructure and needs adequate government funding. He reiterated that Goa is often on the terror hit list and, being an international tourist hub, has been a prime terrorist target for years. But then, the State ATS is not only ill-equipped to face any threat, it also faces a fund crunch and needs better government funding. Thorough training of ATS officials is urgently required, he stated that he was hopeful the government will provide funds. He admitted, however, that the department understands that the government is facing a financial crunch due to the mining ban.
What exactly should the citizens of the State make out of the statement from the top police officer of the State? Is Goa safe? Are the residents of Goa safe? The frequent threats that the State faces from the terror outfits adds seriousness to the issue and an urgency to improve the security. Thankfully, Goa has not been hit by any terrorist attack except for the solitary instance at the Margao Narkasur competition in 2009, where two Sanatan Sanstha members were killed in an attack which was planned to kill and injure many. Are we then waiting for a major tragedy to occur to tighten up security and take any action on the issue?
Security agencies in Goa need to be alert at all times. Though there have been no terror attacks yet, there have been incidents of terrorists either taking shelter in Goa or undergoing training for their future assignments. Pakistan-trained Kashmiri terrorist Tariq Ahmed Batlo, Odhisa’s top Naxal leader Shambhu Beck, Sayyad Ismail Afaque and Garikapatti alias Gopal Rai alias Govind Rao etc have been some of the known ‘terror tourists’.
Despite all this, what is the BJP government, which takes pride in being a nationalist party, doing? Is it only dividing people on the basis of their religion?
What was more shocking was that the government, which spends thousands of crores on doles, does not have even a few crores of rupees to spend on the safety of its citizens. Yes, the State is in a financial crisis due to the mining ban, but shouldn’t the security of citizens and tourists be priorised over doles?
To add to the security unpreparedness, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said after news came in about the IS threat that there was no official information about the threats. This only confirms that the CM and his government are no longer in control of the law and order situation in the State. Will the government act only after there is an official communication of a threat? This indicates that the government is waiting for a tragedy to happen before acting. That is not a good policy.
The Chief Minister must understand that his primary duty is to safeguard the security of Goans and immediately arrange for funds to make the ATS of the Goa Police effective in neutralizing any terror threats to Goa. With the country’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, coming from the tiny State of Goa, should the State not have better equipment and training through central funding?
The BJP has a lot to answer on the issue.
