PANAJI: The Goa government on Wednesday said it will adopt a "no tolerance attitude" towards rave parties in the state.
"You just wait and watch...There will be no rave parties this year. Curbing the trade in narcotics in the state is top among our priorities," Home Minister Ravi Naik told reporters here.
The government, he said, would have a "no tolerance attitude towards rave parties".
Goa, a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists, has gained notoriety for drug trafficking and rave parties organised along its 105-km coastline.
"We are taking all possible measures to tackle the drug menace. The government will go to the root of the problem and book the main offenders," Naik said.
All foreigners, who overstay in Goa under false pretexts, will be asked to immediately leave the country.
"Even if they are held back because they have some petty cases filed against them, we will drop them and ask the foreigners to leave," Naik said.
The state government has also decided to clamp down on foreign students, especially Nigerians, who arrived here with student visas and are involved in drug trafficking.
"We will check their (students') attendance and if they are regularly absent, they will be asked to pack their bags," he said.
Data obtained from police reveals that the anti-narcotic cell, a special section commissioned to curb drug trade since 1997, registered 24 cases involving 25 Indians and 10 foreigners in 2006.
Similarly, police stations had booked seven cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested eight Indians and three foreigners.
The Home Minister said the drug cases have nothing to do with the tourism and they are pure law and order situation.
"Those genuine tourists would not (not) be at discomfort while those with perverted minds will not (not) be tolerated," Naik said.
