Goa has announced high alert after reports that terrorists were planning attacks on its beaches. But that was the easier part, as the Home Department has no clue how to proceed further.

The ‘red alert’ was declared after two terrorists arrested in Karnataka confessed of planning bomb blasts in Goa. However, their plan could not be implemented as they did not receive a consignment of RDX from Pakistan.

Goa has its own tourist and coastal police. However, both departments are not equipped to tackle terror due to the lack of assistance from the Government. “The Coastal Police was set up in 2006, but till date we don’t even have a motorcycle,” said an officer of the department.

“There are three police stations under the Coastal Police—Betul and Harbour in South Goa and Siolim in the north. However, the strategic Harbour police station doesn’t even have an officer, and the Betul station works from a small outpost at Assolna,” he said. “We have 10 policemen who patrol the nearby beaches everyday,” he said.

Security experts said that more than the policemen what the state needs is a good intelligence network. “The Goa Police lacks a serious intelligence machinery based on a wide network of informants,” said Vishnudas Vernekar, a recently retired SP. “Earlier, we had a Local Information Bureau which used to keep in touch with the shanty towns, red light areas, clubs and matka dens through their informants. They used to keep an eye on the activities of all suspects. However, the system has eroded now as most of the policemen and officers are busy with the VIPs,” he said.

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