Popular tourist destination Goa is on the hit list of terrorist group ISIS. The terror group's members, who were arrested in an NIA crackdown in February, were instructed to target foreigners and naval establishments in Goa.
CNN-IBN has learnt that the Goa Police had in December received a specific input that an ISIS module was planning to carry multiple attacks at tourist spots and Naval establishment in Goa. Khalid Ahmed Ali, the second in-command of ISIS India wing, had looked for safe houses and gotten in touch with a broker Goa to hire a house in Madgaon.
But police documents accessed by CNN-IBN reveal that the Goa Police is unprepared to tackle any terror attack.
There are only 121 ammunitions, including AK-47S, Glock pistols and Colt, available for the Goa anti-terror squad. While a proposal was moved in 2013 for 10 sniper rifles, 10 assault rifles, 10 binoculars, the demand is yet to be fulfilled.
The Goa Police does not even have a digital wireless communication system in place. Two proposals for the same were made in 2011 and then in 2016, demanding 101 wireless communication sets for ATS.
Also, a proposal was made in 2011 for 200 bullet proof jackets and 50 helmets, but only four bullet proof jackets have been given to the ATS, which has 60 commandos.
Goa ATS chief Priyanka Kashyap told CNN-IBN, "We are ill-equipped as of now and are struggling to get the infrastructure."
However, Goa Police IG Sunil Garg said that the department was "working on it".
Goa police all these years has lived up to the ‘Goan susegaad' style of functioning, barring the regular bandobast during peak season, while little thought has been given to serious threats. Top cops now say they are sitting ducks for terrorists and if the cash strapped Goa government doesn't focus on modernising the force, major slip ups are bound to happen, something that the government can't afford ahead of a crucial election.
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