Urges Kashmiris living in state to contact police
Special Correspondent
Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said three Pakistan nationals holding short-term visas and living in Goa have been told to leave the country.
It was also informed that the activities of 17 other Pakistan nationals in Goa holding long-term visas are being monitored by the government.
The decision comes in the wake of the recent communication between Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and the chief ministers of Indian states, wherein Shah asked them to ensure that no Pakistani citizen stays in India beyond the deadline set for them to leave the country.
India on Thursday announced the revocation of all visas issued to Pakistanis from April 27, as also advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest, as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on Tuesday.
Sawant, who also holds the home portfolio, held a high-level meeting with officials of the home department, the Goa police and other security agencies.
The meeting discussed the identification of Pakistani nationals in Goa as also review the security situation.
Later briefing mediapersons at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said three Pakistanis with short-term visas have been identified and directions issued to them to leave the country.
It was also informed that the activities of 17 other Pakistan nationals in Goa holding long-term visas are being monitored by the government.
Maintaining that the police have also been asked to conduct thorough checks on suspicious persons, including those at the railway stations and bus stands, Sawant said combing operations will commence in the state from April 26, especially in the settlements where migrants reside.
He further informed that security is to be further beefed up in the state.
Sawant said the police presence has already been increased at tourist spots and surprise nakabandis are also being conducted during the daytime as also at night.
The Chief Minister stated that his government will totally follow the advisory issued by the Union government after the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Kashmiri students and those who have been living here for business purposes should contact the local police stations so that they will be provided with adequate security,” the Chief Minister said, appealing to citizens to maintain communal harmony in the state.
He disclosed that the police are also monitoring social media and other platforms.
It was also informed that those people who were earlier questioned for their connections with banned outfits like Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) would be summoned to the police station again for regular checks.
Talking about coastal security, the Chief Minister said the state has 826 fishing trawlers and 1,206 canoes.
“There will be strict checks on the crewmembers working on these vessels. The government will also introduce biometrics for them in the near future,” he added, stressing that strict check will also be maintained at six landing jetties and 28 ramps.
Maintaining that the migrants coming to weekly markets in Goan villages, towns and cities will have to carry their ID cards, Sawant said if they are without any valid proof, they would be taken into custody.
“Hoteliers as well as those renting bed and breakfast rooms will have to compulsorily fill the C forms,” he said, mentioning that contractors will have to carry out tenant verification of their labourers.
Sawant said the security is also on the alert at the state border check posts, including at Patradevi in the North, and at Molem and Polem in the South.
