Goa may soon get ’rape capital’ tag: Minister

Mangalore Today

PANAJI: Dec.11: Tourism minister Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco on Friday asked the police department to crack down on sexual offenders saying the state was moving towards gaining notoriety as the ‘‘rape capital of India’’.

In a letter to the chief minister and home minister sent on Thursday, Pacheco said, ‘‘An impression is gaining ground that Goa police are either grossly incompetent or influenced by other factors as a result of which complaints are not properly investigated.’’

‘‘Goa may soon, if police inaction or ineffectiveness continues, gain the reputation as a rape capital of India, a situation which cannot be permitted to develop at any cost,’’ he wrote.

 

The minister also urged the revamping of the state police force to ensure that the ‘‘deplorable image’’ of the police in the eyes of foreign tourists is not allowed to affect tourist arrivals.

Pacheco said it was disheartening that foreign consulates and embassies had to intervene in matters involving their citizens, which is ‘‘entirely due to failure of the police to take prompt action on complaints lodged by foreigners’’.