PANJIM: One of the world’s famous tourist destinations, Goa, which is known for its golden beaches, pristine surroundings, relaxed lifestyle and its tranquil atmosphere, is turning out to be a safe haven for the criminals across the country. These criminals have made the State “their home” by seeking refuge from the law enforcement agencies.
Despite the police arresting several criminals residing in Goa, the trend seems to be ever increasing. This has raised a big question on the effectiveness of tenant verification and beat policing in the State.
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Crimes have been on the rise in Goa. Twenty-seven-year-old Bharat, an eye specialist working for a Nuvem-based clinic, was found dead with his hands and legs tied, wedged into the bottom shelf of a wardrobe in his rented house at Nagvaddo, Betalbatim. The accused arrested in the case hail from Odisha, Rajasthan and Mumbai respectively.
In another case, Chatrapal Singh and Surat Singh, the two accused, who attacked a businessman from Apna Nagar, Gandhidham in Gujarat and decamped with Rs 40 lakh, were arrested on board a casino vessel in the State.
A Kerala couple, who duped hundreds of people through a multi-crore stock-investment scam, had splurged their money in the casinos and high class hotels in Goa. They were arrested by the police at the Delhi Airport.
Besides this, the police arrested five contract killers in Arpora, who were supposed to flee the country after assembling in Goa. They are involved in three murder cases including one in Satara, Maharashtra.
Two persons from Solapur, Maharashtra were arrested after they attacked a taxi driver at Patto, Panjim and fled with his vehicle after a scuffle and grievously injuring the taxi driver.
58 mobile phone thieves were arrested and 148 phones were recovered by police on New Year’s Day. These thieves came to Goa from various parts of India and robbed tourists of their smartphones, the value of which runs in crores of rupees.
These are just a few of the many serious cases wherein the criminals had the courage to come and stay in Goa even after committing heinous crimes.
To understand the factors for which Goa is popularly becoming a criminal refuge destination, OHeraldo contacted a beat police official, who has been working in the most vulnerable areas of Goa.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said, “Goa is being preferred by the criminals for its cheap hotels and also casinos for their leisure time as perpetrators make money from wrong means. Several hotels and home stay properties in coastal Goa continue to ignore the basic requirement of maintaining a visitors’ register. In addition to that there are small rooms available on rent, which provide a safe haven for criminals.”
He said that Goa is one of the few places after Nepal wherein criminals, who have executed monetary frauds and cheating, can discreetly and legitimately splurge their money.
Former Deputy Inspector General Bosco George, who was looking after Crime & Range, blames it on callous attitude of the persons, who are directly and indirectly involved in keeping criminals at bay.
“The citizens need to be civic conscious. Without tenant verification there is a gap in the criminal justice system. The population of people visiting Goa supersedes the population of Goa and with such callous attitude, the problem will only worsen,” said George.
Even as Goa Police urges the people to complete and update tenant verification as soon as possible, there are hundreds of tenants that are being rounded up and are found staying without verification.
“The CCTNS system used by the police across the country is a tested method for keeping criminals at bay. However, it will not succeed without updated tenant verification,” George added.
Activist Cyril Fernandes said, “The policing in Goa has become a mirage. From the smallest matka agent to the biggest mafia all of them are hand-in-glove with the police. The criminals have become confident and every Tom, Dick and Harry has crimes booked against him, finds Goa, a safe haven.”
“Criminals are emboldened as they think the police are on their side. The patronage they are getting is from the politicians,” he added.
