TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In the aftermath of the violence at Parra and National Highway connecting Porvorim to Panjim on Thursday, Goa government announced a major crackdown on all foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians who are illegally staying here.
Addressing a press conference post-incident at Secretariat in Porvorim, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said he has directed the police to identity the illegal immigrants freely staying in Goa, within a week’s time.
“This incident was probably a nucleus point to start action against them (Nigerians). We have already made a detailed plan to round up all the foreigners including Nigerians who are staying here without proper documents and visas,” he said while also mentioning about their deportation.
The crackdown will also be against all those involved in the drug-related activities. “The exercise will continue in future as well. We have built a strong network in the last seven to eight months because of which we have been able to nail a number of foreigners involved in various crimes,” he stated.
Parrikar, also Home Minister of the State, has further warned commercial establishments such as clubs, pubs and restaurants entertaining foreign nationals without proper documents. “These establishments should stop patronizing such people especially Nigerians,” he added.
A total of 53 Nigerians were detained for blocking the NH, assaulting the police personnel and damaging public properties. The Nigerians, in separate groups were protesting the brutal murder of one their fellow nationals at Parra late on Wednesday night. They attacked the police hearse van carrying the body and laid it in the middle of the road.
Parrikar maintained the murder was a fall out of a gang rivalry in the drug trade while also admitting a ‘minor technical error’ that resulted in the foreigners overpowering the police on the NH.
“There was a small technical error. The hearse van should have been preceded along with police escort. Unluckily, some of them (Nigerians) followed the hearse van from Parra on their motorbikes carrying hockey sticks. They intercepted the van near O’Coqueiro and removed the body out on the road,” he said.
Earlier, a group of Nigerians had threatened the police against taking the body to Goa medical college.
The chief minister said that all 53 Nigerians who were detained may not be arrested as police are trying to ascertain their role in the road blockage and damage to the hearse van. “Those involved in the ruckus would be arrested and the documents of others would be verified. If they are found violating other laws, they will be booked under different sections,” he said regretting the violence. Parrikar also mentioned that a few locals, who assaulted two Nigerians which landed them in the hospital, will also be booked under Indian Penal Code.
“We understand that a large police force took some time to reach the spot,” he said adding, “But the force was at Parra and other force that was called from Panjim. The personnel were stuck in the traffic congestion about one-and-half kilometer away from the crime spot.”
“About 20-25 personnel who were already at the sport were requesting the locals not to assault the Nigerians and to clear off the traffic but the people did not heed to the police request. People overreacted resulting in the delayed action by the police…I have sympathies for the local people but law is law, they will face serious charges,” he said.
Asked about the police lapse, he replied, “If everything was efficient there would not have been any problem.”
In the same breath, he took the opportunity to pull up the erstwhile government claming that for five years when the Congress was in power, the police network had gone defunct. “The morale in the police force was low and some officers were in jail (referring to drug nexus) during the five years rule of the Congress. In the last one and half year, we are getting control on the overall police force… it will take time,” he said.
