The rising incidents against the foreign tourists holidaying in Goa is not only affecting the tourism industry of the state but also creating fear in the minds of the tourists arriving. Is the sun setting over tourism paradise?
The rape and murder of 28-year old Irish national Danielle McLaughlin early this week at Canacona by a local history-sheeter has once again invited the attention of national as well as international media towards safety and security of foreign tourists holidaying in the state.
Even as in some crimes, justice was delivered, in some, not much headway was made.
There are a series of such cases which rocked not only national but international nedia.
The infamous, case of Scarlett Keeling British teen who was allegedly raped and murder at Anjuna beach was acquitted by Children’s Court last year. However, the mother of the victim who believes in Indian judiciary has appeal the acquittal in the higher court.
Scarlett was found dead in Anjuna on February 18, 2008 whereas the trial had commenced in the court since 2010 whereas the case acquitted after six years of trial in the Children’s Court.
Goa Police initially registered the case as unnatural death due to drowning, but the second autopsy which was demanded the mother finally revealed the truth.
The Goa government then in during Congress regime transferred the case to the CBI after finding loopholes in the Police investigation.
Another case of Denyse Sweeney who died on April 16, 2010 after she was found unconscious at a night club has also gone concealed.
CBI after six years in September 2016 has filed a closure report in the court as no evidence of assault or homicide has been found.
Sweeney, a charity worker, was found unconscious at a night club at Vagator and died during treatment at a private hospital. The medical reports had stated that she had most likely died due to drug overdose. After intense pressure from the British family, the Anjuna police had re-opened the case in 2012 and treated her death as murder and transferred it to the CBI.
In another case also Goa Police didn’t make a headway in which remains of 19-year old Russian girl was on railway track at Revora village neat Thivim railway station in North Goa.
Elena Sukahanova, a 19-year-old Russian had come to Goa on May 6, 2009 and booked into the Resort at Baga. She was found dead on May 9, three days after her arrival. Police had revealed that the deceased was in the company of 38-year-old Russian man few days before her death, further no details.
Another case in which minor Russina girl was sexually assaulted at Arambol beach, however the Police had nabbed two accused from Mumbai.
The incident had happened on January 26, 2010 while 9-year old victim was bathing at shore along with her mother. Police acted following the complaint from the mother of the victim.
This news had also hit international media where safety and security of the foreign tourists in Goa was questioned.
The Police have charged two persons Aman Bharadwaj and Anil Raghuvanshi from Chembur in Mumbai. Aman was charged for sexually assaulting the minor while Anil engaged her mother in talks to divert attention from her daughter. In one of the fastest case trials, the children’s court convicted Aman, while Anil who turned State-approver was let off with minor penalties.
In another case of Swedish national in Canacona, the family of the deceased Felix Dahl had to approach the court to direct Police to register the death as a murder case.
Judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Canacona, had directed the Goa police to register Dahl’s death as a murder in October 2016 whereas he was found dead in suspicious circumstances on January 28, 2015, near Patnem beach in Canacona.
