Amresh Parab
Panaji
Goa has a reason to worry as crimes allegedly committed by non-resident Goans are on the rise, with the state registering over 2,000 cases involving migrants and tourists in the last two and half years.
In 2023, Goa police had registered 752 cases involving tourists and migrants, while this number increased to 816 in 2024. This year, police have already registered 446 such cases till June.
According to the police records, of the over 2,000 cases registered since 2023, migrants were allegedly involved in over 1,719 cases, while tourists were allegedly involved in over 281 cases. The crimes included assault, theft, gambling, cheating,
rape, murder, etc.
According to police, accused have been convicted in 160 cases, while they were acquitted in 105 cases. Police have filed closure report (A final) in 44 cases and (C final) in 40 cases. Accused have been discharged in 13 cases, while seven cases have been compounded. Investigation is in progress in over 302 cases and trial is pending in over 1,279 cases.
Police officials said various steps are being taken to arrest the trend, with day and night patrolling by beat staff, police control vans (PCRs) and robins intensified. Besides, motorcycles and highway patrol vans have also been deployed for intensive mobile patrolling at night, officials said. Foot patrolling is also carried out at bus stands, parking places, railway stations and crowded places.
Police said individuals found moving suspiciously at odd hours are rounded up and investigated thoroughly. Surprise nakabandis are conducted and vehicles checked thoroughly, they said.
Officials said history-sheeters, ex-convicts and suspects are also checked regularly and kept under surveillance. Tenant, servant and stranger verification forms are filled and sent to their native police stations for verification. Community meetings are organised to share and collect intelligence, said police officials.
A tourist police unit has been established to ensure security of tourists from anti-social elements so as to make their stay in the state pleasant, said officials. “These tourist police personnel ensure that visitors are not victimised or cheated during their stay,” the officials said.
