TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: On the heels of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar admitting in the assembly that the state is a place where terrorists recuperate, his deputy Francis D’Souza has called it a magnet for “every known criminal in the world.”
Addressing media persons, Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza, called Goa a ‘soft’ state charging that landlords do not divulge information to the police and the local body.
“Landlords do not want to reveal about the people they keep on hire, because then they will have to pay higher house tax, which amounts to a month’s rent. Because of this, they do not mention to the municipality nor to the police,” he said adding, “Goa is a soft state; our nature is soft… every known criminal in the world has been to Goa.”
In the recent past, Indian Mujahideen founder Yasin Bhatkal admitting to having reconnoitred Goa as a possible target of terror strikes, while interrogations with other terrorists also arrested revealed that they came to party in Goa after successfully carrying out the Mumbai blasts.
The news that Bhatkal stayed as a tenant in Chapora unnoticed and left behind bomb making material sent shockwaves through the state. Recent revelations by the former girlfriend of Yaniv Benaim alias Atala Lucky Farmhouse have revealed the inner workings of how the hosting of anti-social elements and even terrorists could be aided and abetted albeit indirectly by the establishment.
Recently Parrikar had said that the state was becoming a place for recess and recuperation and cooling off period for terrorists.
“The police also have to take a more proactive role in going about identifying these tenants rather than waiting for the landlords to wait for them to come and submit police verification forms,” D’Souza said.
Goa is a soft state; our nature is soft… every known criminal in the world has been to Goa. The police also have to take a more proactive role in going about identifying these tenants rather than waiting for the landlords to wait for them to come and submit police verification forms
INFAMOUS VISITORS
Sukur Narayan Bhakia, an alleged smuggler who escaped from Aguada jail had large amounts of property in the state
Charles Sobraj, the infamous bikini killer was caught at Porvorim
David Coleman Headley, 26/11 mastermind caught and is in custody in USA
Yasin Bhatkal, Indian Mujahideen founder in custody at present.Bhatkal is responsible for major bomb blasts all over the country
Ashadullah Akhtar, another IM operative
