MAPUSA
The Opposition on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the government over Goa’s deteriorating law and order situation, declaring that criminals no longer fear the police and accusing the Home Department of failing to contain a surge in murders, organised crime, narcotics, cybercrime and financial frauds.
Defending the government, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant maintained that Goa remained secure and that the police were doing a good job. He, however, attributed a large share of the crimes reported in the State to migrants, claiming that “90 per cent of the crimes are due to the migrants.”
The sharp exchanges took place during Question Hour, with Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar citing government data which showed a 98 per cent crime detection rate but a conviction rate of only 50.87 per cent.
Borkar said crimes against children, cybercrime, financial frauds, narcotics and organised criminal activity had increased substantially, while the government had failed to prevent their fallout.
“Shootout is happening just a few metres away from the Assembly, drugs have entered the Colvale jail. The law and order situation has completely collapsed in the State. It looks like the criminals are not scared of the law,” Borkar said.
He questioned whether the government had a concrete crime-prevention plan and said there was a time when criminals feared the police.
“During the tenure of late Ravi Naik as Home Minister, there was fear among criminals. That is not happening now,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao further cornered the government, claiming that not a single murder case had ended in conviction in the last four years, while a similar situation prevailed in cases involving organised crime.
Alemao also alleged zero conviction in cybercrime cases, and accused the Home Department of failing to maintain law and order.
“Conviction rate is the lowest in the country. The Home Department has failed to implement law and order. Goa is termed as the crime capital of the country,” Alemao said.
He pointed out that several areas witnessing an increase in crime continued to have police stations functioning with inadequate staff.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva also raised the issue of vacancies in the police force and questioned when the government would fill the vacant posts.
Goa is secure, don’t send wrong message: Sawant
MAPUSA: Responding to the Opposition attack, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended the functioning of the police department, saying it was working effectively under the Director General of Police and that various wings of the department were coordinating smoothly.
He said the government was working with the prosecution department to improve the conviction rate, while explaining that some cases did not proceed to conviction after the parties reached an understanding at different stages.
On rape cases, Sawant said the number had increased marginally, from 97 to 102, and attributed some complaints to disputes arising from live-in relationships.
He also said cases involving migrants eloping with minors were sometimes subsequently registered as rape cases.
On the rise in cybercrime and financial fraud, Sawant said the increase in reported cases was also a result of greater public awareness created by the police.
Warning people against online fraud, he said many victims were being duped through fraudulent calls and “digital arrest” scams.
The Chief Minister said the government was also serious about curbing narcotics and that several arrests had been made in drug-related cases.
On crime prevention, Sawant said public awareness was one of the government’s primary tools and highlighted tenant verification carried out by the police.
He said 1.22 lakh tenants were verified in 2025 as part of the exercise.
“We are doing our best to contain crime and increase the conviction rate. Don’t spoil Goa’s name. Being a touristic State, we need to be responsible about the message we are conveying. Goa is fully secured,” Sawant maintained.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, however, questioned the government’s claim that migrants were responsible for a large proportion of crimes, pointing out that the police were already conducting extensive tenant verification.
“If the government is conducting tenant verification, then why are crimes involving migrants happening in the State?” Viegas asked.
He sought to know what concrete steps the government was taking to prevent migrants from becoming involved in criminal activities and urged it to set a 30-day deadline to bring down the crime rate.
