Goa’s Powers That Be Say We Are Ready For A Terror Attack; Facts Indicate Otherwise

A ticking time BOMB?
Goa’s Powers That Be Say We Are Ready For A Terror Attack; Facts Indicate Otherwise
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Goa’s image as a safe destination was shattered in 2000 when a bomb went off near St. Andrew’s Church in Vasco. The blast was allegedly planned by a Bangalore-based group: Deendare-Anjuman, and was part of a series of blasts that had occured in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bijapur and Maharashtra over a period of 2 to 3 days. Luckily, no one was killed or injured here.
But overnight, the state’s image changed from being a “sleeper cell”— a conduit for arms and a resting place for separatists —to being a very real target, especially with the hordes of British, Israeli and American tourists that flock to Goa during season.
Senior police sources reveal that arms are traded from Kashmir to Goa by Pakistan-based terrorist groups using ‘mules’ (persons, not necessarily terrorists, acting as carriers).
“The weapons are wrapped in carpets along with counterfeit notes and heroin. While the money and drugs are spread through Goa, especially the northern beach stretch, the arms are traded to Southern Indian states and even smuggled to Sri Lanka,” said a top police official. The main threat, he added, is from any organisation that is influenced by the Al-Quaeda.
The arrest of suspected terrorist Tariq Battlo from Margao in late 2006, is a fresh reminder that terror has really come home. Battlo is a member of Pakistanbased Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen. Terror alerts were sounded in 2005 when the threat of Bali-style bombings in Goa led then tourism minister, Wilfred de Souza, to announce an “international intelligence agency” warning of a terrorist strike on foreign tourists here. The threat resurfaced in October 2006 following similar inputs that bars and discotheques frequented by US and British tourists were being targeted on the lines of the Bali bombings. The Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005 killed 221 people. “Any terror attack on Goa would trigger off a panic reaction and the mass exodus could affect Goa’s economy and irreparably damage Goa’s image as a safe tourist destination,” said a top police official.
BOMB SQUADS
1 Comprises 6-8 trained personnel TARGETS
BEACHES: Palolem, Colva, Calangute-Baga MARKETS: Specially season-time, tourist-packed bazaars Airport, Railway stations, Harbour, Oil depots in Vasco
LATEST THREAT
February 2008 - Suspected terrorist Riyazuddin Nasir alias Mohammed Ghouse arrested in Karnataka, said terror activities were planned along Goa’s coastline KHAKI ALERT
General sensitization of all police stations and people, especially in the coastal areas Patrolling in coastal areas upped by almost 50% during tourist season. Staff of India Reserve Battalion used along with 28 police control room vehicles, 24 station vehicles and motorcycles Tenant verification: under section 144 of CrPC, the Collector has made it mandatory to provide for identity of tenants. However, this order has expired Verfication of men working on trawlers and with fishermen Cyber café users asked to give records of customers Those who give vehicles on hire or sell it second hand asked to give details Verifying terror Preetu Nair & Govind Kamat Maad | TNN
Panaji/Margao: Though verifications serve as an important vigilant aspect of police, the fact remains that the details are rarely supplied and often not up to mark. Take the case of terror suspect, Tariq Battlo.
The member of Pakistan-based Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen lived for almost 6 months at a rented place in Margao without inviting any suspicion from the locals before being nabbed in late 2006.
Police records reveal that in 2007, in North Goa there were about 7,500 tenant verifications, 4,494 servant verfications and about 2,247 strangers’ verifications done by beat police. Compare this with the verifications done by the short-staffed force in the south. Only 2,782 tenant verifications, 312 servant verifications and 3419 strangers’ verification were done.
Another problem is that of guests at hotels, lodges and guest houses. “There is no law by which the police can force the guest houses or lodges to take the complete details of their visitors,” said South Goa Superintendent of Police Shekhar Prabhudessai. “There maybe a few instances where people don’t give details of their tenants to the police. In such cases, we write to the Collector and they (landlords) are fined,” added North Goa Superintendent of Police Bosco George.

2008 May 15 Times Of India Goa