CM Pramod Sawant inaugurates detention centre for foreigners in Goa
The detention centre is meant for foreign nationals illegally overstaying in the state as well those booked for various crimes.
In Short
- Detention centre was converted from a sub jail in Mapusa for Rs 50 lakh
- Foreigners illegally overstaying would be housed here till deportation
- Facilities will provided by social welfare department, security by state police
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is truly living up to his words when he inaugurated the detention centre for foreign nationals in Goa on Wednesday morning. The detention centre was announced by his predecessor Manohar Parrikar in August 2014 when he had addressed the legislative assembly about the plan.
Somehow the plan couldn't take off. After being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant had announced that all the projects announced by Parrikar would be completed by his government.
The detention centre is meant for foreign nationals illegally overstaying in the state as well those booked for various crimes.
The centre will be second such facility in the country to detain internees, foreigners awaiting deportation, the first one was set up in Delhi. Such detention centres have also been proposed by the Mumbai Police in the past as various foreign nationals involved in cases of drug peddling, cyber theft and phishing have been on the loose once they secured bail from the court.
Goa, famous for its beaches, sees lakhs of foreign nationals visiting the state every year and many of them overstay illegally while there have been several cases of drug peddling and consumption against foreign nationals in the state, there have been some major criminal cases as well.
The detention centre inaugurated by Sawant is at Mapusa, this was a sub jail in the past and at an expenditure of Rs 50 lakh, it has been converted into a detention centre. The centre presently can house around 20 people and there will be separate rooms for men and women.
Speaking to media, Sawant said that facilities in the detention centre would be provided by the social welfare department, while its security would be managed by the state police.
Dr Muktesh Chander, former DGP of Goa, tweeted saying, "As DGP Goa, I had pursued setting up of Detention Centre for foreigners without proper travel documents. After a long wait I am happy to see it being inaugurated by @goacm @DrPramodPSawant. This would be a game changer for Goa Police in dealing with crimes committed by foreigners."