PANJIM: Devotees and people flocking to Old Goa for novenas masses leading to the feast of St Francis Xavier can now heave a sigh of relief as the Goa police have confirmed that only those found moving suspiciously will be frisked and taken to the nearest police outpost for investigation and they will cause no inconvenience to any person.
Allaying the fears in the minds of devotees and people regarding the Goa Police’s latest security advisory emphasising carrying of ID proofs for access to the Churches, SP Valsan told O Heraldo that even photographs of ID cards on mobile phones will be sufficient.
He said it will be made sure that no inconvenience is caused to anybody.
“Women will be allowed to carry hand bags. We will ensure that there is no inconvenience to anybody and the entire process is carried out smoothly through the novenas and the feast,” SP Valsan said.
Police also stated they would see to it that no inconvenienceis cause to any person during the novena days and upto the feast day.
Secruity have been beefed up for the novenas starting from Saturday and upto the feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa on December 4 as over a lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the place.
The measures include use of drones, X-ray baggage scanners, round-the-clock surveillance to ensure safety of UNESCO World Heritage sites and the people, North SP Nidhin Valsan said.
SP Valsan said besides deployment of personnel of Goa police, personnel of India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will also be deployed to provide full-proof security to the thousands of people and devotees from different parts of the State and neighbouring States visit Old Goa Churches during the feast, which are world heritage monuments. The devotees will visit Bom Jesus Basilica Church, Old Goa to venerate the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, attend mass and religious ceremonies throughout.
There would be deployment of police personnel in plain clothes as well, he added.
As many as 250 armed police personnel will be deployed during each shift at the venue, Valsan, adding there would be random frisking and anybody found suspicious would be taken to a nearby police outpost.
The Bomb Disposal Squad will carry out screening of the churches twice a day to ensure their safety.
For thorough screening and ensuring that nothing goes undetected, X-ray baggage machines will be stationed at different locations of the venue.
The drones will help in monitoring movement of the people around the Basilica of Bom Jesus and St Cathedral Church which falls under the jurisdiction of Old Goa Police Station.
On Friday morning, the North SP held a meeting with the senior police officials to provide elaborate security arrangements while, Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh also visited Old Goa to tack stock of the arrangements ahead of novenas and for the annual feast.
