Goa CM repeats claim that migrants behind over 90% of state's crimes
Goa CM Pramod Sawant reiterated in the Assembly that migrants commit over 90% of crimes in the state, prompting opposition questions on next steps.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday reiterated his controversial assertion that migrants are responsible for more than 90% of crimes in the state. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly, he linked the figure to the government's emphasis on verifying the antecedents of tenants and labourers.
"People come here for work in large numbers and then they get involved in robberies, rapes, dacoities… If you examine the crimes committed in Goa, then more than 90% is due to migrants," Sawant said. He stressed that police verification of tenants and labourers is a cornerstone of the state's crime-prevention strategy.
The discussion was triggered by Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) MLA Viresh Borkar, who alleged a breakdown of law and order over the past three years. Borkar cited a recent shooting involving a casino director and drug smuggling at Colvale jail. He also pointed to a disparity between Goa police's 98.92% crime detection rate and a conviction rate of just 5.85%, questioning the lack of new CCTV installations.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas pressed the Chief Minister on the way forward. "You are admitting that 90% of crime is due to migrants. What is the next step then? Besides [tenant] verification, what are the steps that the government plans to take to reduce this crime… from 90% to 0%?" Viegas asked.
In a written reply, Sawant said the police regularly analyse the profiles of arrested accused in serious offences, including their place of origin and links to organised or inter-state networks. He detailed existing measures such as round-the-clock mobile patrolling, deployment of Tourist Police on beaches, and continuous patrols at railway stations. He also mentioned ongoing intelligence analysis to identify drug networks and repeat offenders.
This is not the first time the Chief Minister has made such a claim. In 2023, he attributed 90% of crimes to migrant labourers, a remark he later said was "twisted by some political leaders." In 2024, he linked rising migration to an increase in incidents like human trafficking.