Russia warns of Goa alarm

Russia warns of Goa alarm
If ‘Attacks’ On Russians Don’t Stop, Embassy Threatens Travel Advisory
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Alarmed by incidents of growing “racial intolerance” against their countrymen, the Russian consulate in Mumbai has threatened to issue a travel advisory to their citizens intending to visit Goa.
In a letter to the state chief minister Digambar Kamat, the acting consul general of the Russian Federation in Mumbai Irina Bashkirova alleged that “Russian citizens were being assaulted on the basis of national or racial intolerance” in Goa and has requested the government to take “appropriate action”.
Hinting that the Russian authorities might take a strict view of such incidents, the letter said that it may “initiate considering a possibility of preparing some recommendations or travel advisory for Russian tourists who want to visit Goa,” as such incidents harm Goa’s image in Russia.
It the letter, the Russian consulate has once again raised concerns over the security situation in Goa that may put in peril the safety and health of Russian nationals. “In view of numerous unlawful actions by Goan inhabitants against Russians, which have taken place lately, we would request you to see that appropriate actions will be undertaken to ensure the rights and safety of Russian citizens,” the letter states. The letter was written on July 1, 2008.
Confirming the receipt of the letter CM Digambar Kamat said that he has asked for a report from the police. “I am yet to get the status report from the DGP,” he said.
The letter to the chief minister and the tourism minister came after the Russian consulate received a letter from one from their citizens narrating an unpleasant incident.
The Russian lady in a letter to the consulate complained that she and her friend, also a Russian, were assaulted by a group of intoxicated locals, who entered a hotel at Calangute where the two Russian women were residing and created a nuisance. In the letter, the Russian alleges that the locals insulted them by shouting, “You Russians are nothing but prostitutes”, “You are nobody in my country” and “Get out of India”, even as one in the group hit and punched them. Further, in the letter the Russian lady said that though she made about ten calls to the Calangute police station, the police arrived at the hotel after an hour, when all the attackers had already fled.
However, North Goa SP Bosco George commenting on the particular incident said, “The Russian embassy has heard only one side of the story. Our inquiry has shown that the complaint was lodged and action was taken by the Calangute police.”
Consul general of Russian Federation in Mumbai’s advocate in Goa, Vikram Varma agreed that the matter is serious. “I hope the Goa government would give adequate attention to resolve this and provide energy for improving the relationship with Russian citizens in Goa,” he said.
Earlier this year too the Russian authorities had alleged that their nationals were receiving an unfair deal from the police, hoteliers and other tourist service providers.
Recently the Goa government had initiated investigations on illegal purchases of land by foreigners as well as constructions by foreign nationals in violation of CRZ rules.
The Enforcement Directorate investigating the illegal purchases had discovered that a Russian company had purchased about 20,000 square metres of agriculture/forest land in Morjim. Foreigners cannot purchase agricultural/forest land in India.
TOI had reported that in the CRZ investigations, a majority of the violations were by Russians and in Morjim alone ten constructions were in violation of the CRZ norms.

July 07,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition

Probe into maid’s killing gains ground

Probe into maid’s killing gains ground
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: Days after cracking the murder mystery of 12-year old Safiya - a domestic help whose disappearance from Goa two years ago triggered a public outcry - the Kerala police on Sunday have found blood stains on the bathroom tiles of the Margao flat where the girl was cut to pieces.
While one team recovered the hands, leg, chest, skull, hair and the dress worn by the girl, another team opened the flat at Ramnagar road, Margao where the victim stayed with Hamsa’s family and found blood stains on the tiles.
The police had arrested Hamsa, a government approved contractor on July 2 from Kasargod and claimed he had confessed to cutting Safiya’s body into three pieces. He also said that he carried the body in a bag to Sangod and buried it. Hamsa’s wife, Mymoona, was also arrested.
However, a people’s judicial commission doesn’t agree with the police version. “She may have been sexually abused and murdered,” said advocate P A Pouram, who is heading the commission.
The judicial commission members said that Safiya, a standard IV student, was taken to Kasargod with a promise by that Hamsa would provide her with education, shelter and food and that in return, she would have to care for the couple’s child.
In August 2006, he brought her to Goa. “After the brutal murder, he returned to Kerala in December 2006 and told the girl’s parents that she was
missing. On December 22, 2006, Hamsa lodged a missing complaint with the Adoor police, Kasargod along with Safiya’s father.”
The Kerala police suspended ASI Gopalkrishna from Adoor police station and named him as an accused in the case for trying to destroy evidence. “The ASI was sent to Goa for investigation. But, he tried to destroy evidence,” added Adv Pouram.

July 07,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition