Goa not safe harbour for Maoists: State home minister
By IANSFriday, May 7, 2010
PANAJI - A day after a 25-year-old leader of an Orissa-based fringe Maoist outfit was arrested here, state Home Minister Ravi Naik Friday said Goa was not a safe harbour for the Leftwing ultras.
“We don’t have any threat from Naxalism (Maoism). It is also wrong to say that Naxalites (Maoists) were taking shelter in the state,” Naik told reporters at a police function in Valpoi, some 60 km from Panaji.
Acting on a tip-off from their Orissa counterparts, the Goa police had Thursday arrested Shambhu Beck, leader of Orissa’s Maoist Trishul Manch.
Police also arrested 17 other people for harbouring Beck, who is reportedly wanted in Orissa for murder, kidnapping and dacoity.
“We will check the antecedents of all Oriya persons living and working in Goa’s labour market,” Naik said.
Goa’s booming tourism, mining and real estate development sectors have seen a huge influx of migrant labourers from Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and other states.
Director General of Police Bhimsain Bassi, who was present at the function also reiterated that Goa was “not a safe haven for Naxalites”.
“We have arrested 18 people but all of them are not Naxalites. They have been booked for harbouring Beck,” the official said.
Meanwhile, a team of policemen from Orissa has arrived in Goa to question Beck and the other arrested people. Beck is likely to be taken back to Orissa for trial.
