Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, while speaking at a function in Panaji, reiterated that the State government wants to promote Goa as the tourism capital of India. While admitting that the media has a right to be critical of the government, Sawant advised exercising caution that the tourism image doesn't get a beating across the world. The concern of Sawant is understandable since he is consistent with his talk of establishing Goa as tourism capital. However, what is beyond comprehension is the equally consistent failure to safeguard the image of Goa and allow it to be showcased as a 'drug capital' instead.
Consider this. A missing Goan youth was traced to be in the custody of Hyderabad police in a drug trafficking case. Based on investigations and telephone records of the accused, the Hyderabad police have registered charges against 174 people, including eight well-known individuals from Goa who own prominent nightclubs and party places. This amplifies the dark underbelly of Goa's tourism and exposes an inherent failure. Is this not bad publicity for Goa?
The police must be credited for the recent efforts in swooping down on drug joints, and the recent narcotic hauls and the photo-ops with 'hooded men' after their arrest is a testimony of that, no matter the negligent quantities that are seized. For all that effort, the question remains whether authorities, police, and the government are doing enough to shed the drug tag that Goa tourism is associated with.
The question is whether there is a sheer lack of confidence in our system or whether enough is not done. Now consider this. A team of police from Hyderabad descended in Goa and picked up a local person earlier this month on charges of drug trafficking without informing the local police and completely bypassing protocol. The arrest was made in complete secrecy that Anjuna police had to see through CCTV footage that the accused was being taken by a private car to Hyderabad. This only goes to suggest a lack of trust in the Goa police.
If we may recall, in April 2017, an alleged drug supplier from Goa was swooped upon by Kerala police by bypassing the State cops and was charged for supplying high-end narcotic drugs. The accused had cried foul, stating before the magistrate that Kerala authorities did not follow procedures in his arrest. The police action followed a seizure of Rs 84 lakh worth of psychotropic drugs with fingers of suspicion pointing towards the Goa supplier. A month later, the narcotic cell of the Kochi city police tracked the largest-ever haul of LSD that had links to Goa.
The Goa drug story continues to roll, and there is undoubtedly big money. Recently, the North Goa Additional Sessions Court has framed corruption charges against one police sub-inspector who is facing trial in a disproportionate assets case during his term in the Anti-Narcotics Cell.
A lot needs to change, beginning with the mindset on Goa's tourism.
