Girish Chodankar Flags Law and Order Concerns in Goa; Police Responds with Clarification

Panaji: Former Goa Congress President and permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Girish Chodankar, has raised serious concerns over the law and order situation in Goa. In a social media post, Chodankar highlighted a spate of recent incidents in the Calangute area—including a stabbing, assault on a taxi driver, and multiple vehicle thefts—as signs of a deteriorating security environment. He also referred to a recent murder of a migrant worker in Parra, stating that the police’s alleged delay in responding to complaints is worsening public anxiety.

Chodankar questioned whether Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, who holds 42 portfolios, is able to adequately address Goa’s security needs. He added that the Calangute Block Congress had flagged these developments as a sign of administrative failure and demanded urgent action from both the Chief Minister and Goa Police to restore safety for locals and tourists.

Responding to the criticism, the Goa Police issued a detailed clarification, stating that their response to reported incidents has been swift and effective. According to the police:

In the Parra murder case, both accused were apprehended within four hours of the complaint being filed.

In the taxi driver assault case, the Pernem Police Station team pursued the accused to Sawantwadi and apprehended one within six hours. Two more were arrested the following night after a cross-border operation in Maharashtra.

Of the six vehicle thefts reported in the past week, five have been solved, and the vehicles recovered.

In the recent Calangute assault case, an FIR was registered immediately, and multiple teams are working to trace the accused.

The Goa Police also noted that they conduct regular tenant and labour verifications, take preventive measures under the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita), and maintain checks on history-sheeters. They affirmed their commitment to maintaining public safety and conducting swift investigations whenever complaints are reported.

The exchange highlights rising public concern over law and order in tourist-heavy regions of Goa, while also showcasing the police department’s efforts to respond promptly to criminal incidents.