Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar on Monday refuted claims that Goa is witnessing a surge in crime, asserting that the perception of ris ing lawlessness is largely shaped by amplified social media coverage. “If you compare year one-year figures there is no increase in crime rates. However, social media has become so active that any incident gets magnified,” Kumar said. Addressing media que ries on recent controver sies, including the Ocean man event at Caranzalem, the DGP denied allega tions that any IPS officer had exerted pressure on local police. “After speaking to the concerned officers, no such involvement was found,” he said, noting that po lice acted promptly once the unauthorised activity was detected. His clarification follows Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte’s allegations of “high-handedness” by an IPS officer.
The DGP also urged the hospitality industry not to take the law into its own hands when dealing with unruly cus tomers. “They should immediately call the police instead,” he said, referring to the recent brutal assault and murder of an Uttar Pradesh teenager allegedly attacked by a vehicle owner, and the assault on tourists by bouncers of an Anju na-based club. Kumar confirmed that two Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) officers linked to the Pernem firing case will face action following the ongoing probe. Commenting on the al leged assault of a Margao resident by a police officer inside a police station, he said a departmental inquiry is under way and punishment will be proportionate to the offence. He added that the services of several police personnel have been terminated for their involvement in criminal ac tivities. Referring to the NCB’s arrest of Dawood aide Danish Merchant in Goa, Kumar clarified that the accused had no criminal activity linked to the State. He added that the po lice are working on mechanisms to track criminal elements entering Goa under the guise of tourism.
