PANAJI: For the first time since the raging controversy over the slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling has forced the State Police on the defensive, the Goa Director-General of Police, B. S. Brar, on Thursday came out forcefully defending Goa as “the most safe place where tourists including women are most safe.” The DGP told presspersons at the police headquarters on Thursday evening: “ I am anguished at the way Goa has been portrayed nationally and international by some people. I am saying with full authority that Goa is the safest place. Let us realise that no society is without crime, crime is there in Goa, but it is minimum.” 

Upset at the continued tirade and spate of allegations against the police, Mr. Brar admitted “there are aberrations as regards police,” but objected to the tendency to blow up things to tarnish the image of the entire police force. “I appeal to you to project true culture of Goa and true picture of Goa where people continue to be most friendly, warm and hospitable,” asserted the police chief.

Mr. Brar also denied insinuations made by a television sting operation on Wednesday in which a police officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police was shown on a hidden camera allegedly implicating Home Minister Ravi Naik and his son Roy Naik in the drug trade on Goan coast.

The DGP said that the concerned police officer had flatly denied any such interview and based on his complaint the police had issued a notice to a national Hindi news channel to explain the “irresponsible act.”

“With full authority as DGP I say that Mr. Naik as Home Minister and his son have nothing to do with drugs.” 

He said that from the day he took over as Home Minister Mr. Naik had been exhorting the police to stamp out the scourge of drug trade and had taken major steps to support the police strengthen its anti- narcotics cell.

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