11 June 2025: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government in the state, accusing it of overseeing a complete breakdown in law and order. GPCC President Amit Patkar said that Goa is “bleeding under BJP’s Gundaraj,” citing a disturbing rise in serious crimes across the state — from gruesome murders and sword attacks to assaults on minors and a major drug bust in Mapusa.
Raising strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment, Patkar questioned whether Goa is still a tourism destination or has now turned into a “lawless laboratory” under Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s rule.
On June 10, the Crime Branch seized 30 kg of ganja worth over ₹40 lakh in Mapusa, allegedly linked to a broader drug cartel. The Congress claimed this incident was not an isolated case but part of a growing criminal nexus flourishing under administrative neglect.
Highlighting recent incidents including a casino murder in Panaji, assaults in Calangute, a kidnapping case in Ponda, sword attacks in Curchorem, and the Mapusa drug bust, the Congress demanded answers:
Who is truly running the state?
Who is protecting the criminals?
Who is accountable for this collapse in governance?
The Congress party has put forth three key demands:
- A high-level independent probe into Goa’s drug trafficking networks, involving central agencies like the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
- Public accountability from the Chief Minister and the Home Department regarding the spike in crimes.
- Immediate suspension of police officials who failed to act or facilitated criminal activities through negligence.
“Goa Police must clarify — are they serving the BJP or protecting the people of Goa?” Patkar asked, adding that the CM’s silence amid rising violence and drug cases signals not just incompetence but complicity.
Vowing to take the fight forward, the Congress said it would raise the issue in the Assembly and on the streets, standing firmly with Goans who are demanding safety, peace, and justice.
“Goans will no longer remain silent. The demand for justice is loud and clear,” Patkar said.
