Margao: A delegation of Congress, led by state party president Girish Chodankar and leader of opposition Yuri Alemao, met governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju at Lok Bhavan on Thursday and submitted a memorandum flagging what it called a serious deterioration in the law and order situation in the state.The memorandum urged the governor to call for a comprehensive report from state govt on the prevailing law and order situation and seek district-wise data on murders, dacoities, kidnappings, crimes against women and children, and narcotics offences, along with conviction rates and pendency of investigations.The delegation cited a string of recent incidents, including the murder of Umakant Khot after he opposed illegal hill-cutting, the June 18 killing of Anand Patil near Socorro panchayat in Porvorim constituency, and the kidnapping of a minor boy from Zuarinagar, as evidence of a “disturbing pattern” of serious crimes.The memorandum also raised concerns over the spread of narcotics beyond tourist belts into villages, residential areas and educational institutions, pointing to rising NDPS cases even as conviction rates remain low. It flagged the emergence of organised dacoities targeting homes, a nexus between illegal land activities and violent crime, and instances of police being caught accepting bribes, including at border check posts.Congress called for preventive policing, stronger coordination between Goa police and central agencies, and protection for citizens and journalists who report wrongdoing without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
