Two politicians involved in arms racket

Sandesh Prabhudesai
22 January 2001  



At least one or two senior politicians across the border are involved in the illegal trade of arms and ammunition in Goa, disclosed chief minister Manohar Parrikar in the state Assembly on Monday.

The state police had recently cracked down on several people, arresting almost 34 persons including seven hard-core criminals and former NSA detenues, bringing to the light a major arms deal racket going on here since 1998.

While these arms were used for the purpose of 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 purchase and sale of arms and ammunition.

The arms include almost 17 sophisticated ones and several pen pistols among total 61 such arms and 717 ammunitions seized from various persons within a fortnight. The arrested persons also includes an arms repairer, involved in the racket.

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

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

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

Regarding the issue of RDX being landed in the tourist state, Parrikar however denied the news stating that one such tip off was received from the central intelligence agency but was proved to be a false alarm.

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