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Goa CM alleges hand of two
politicians in arms racket

One or two senior politicians across the border are involved in the illegal trade of arms and ammunition in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar disclosed in the state assembly on Monday.

The state police had recently arrested 34 persons, including seven hard-core criminals and former National Security Act detenues, bringing to light a major arms deal racket going on here since 1998.

While the arms were used for extortion and settling matters in the real estate market locally, the police have also found out that Goa was being used as a transit point for the purchase and sale of arms and ammunition.

The arms include 17 sophisticated and several pen pistols among 61 arms and 717 ammunitions seized from various persons within a fortnight. The arrested persons also includes an arms repairer.

"I cannot disclose the names, but it is certain that one or two senior politicians across the border are involved in this racket," said Parrikar, adding that their names would be disclosed only after the main person was nabbed.

He confirmed that the persons arrested locally include a deputy sarpanch and two close relatives of a councillor, besides a doctor. Joe Florencio Lopes sold arms to politicians outside Goa, he added.

While investigations are on, in co-ordination with the police of neighbouring states, the local police have intensified surveillance along the coastal belt, while checking all foreigners staying here after expiry of visas.

Parrikar denied that RDX was landing in the tourist state, adding that a tip-off was received from a central intelligence agency, but it proved to be a false alarm.

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