I have been an international traveler and can definitely say, India by far is a very friendly and safe country for tourists.Unless one is very stupid , tourists are unlikely to get abused. Very unfortunately, our country is saddled with a corrupt governmental system which is by far apathetic to security needs. The fact the police force is so outdated and undertrained, they have no chance of nabbing smart criminals.The need of the hour is revamping the police force, making even for a constable, basic educational qualification of a university degree, an IQ test and physical fitness levels mandatory, if the quality of the force is to improve. Unfortunatly the constables in the force are majorly assigned to ministers,customs officers,tax collection government officials,courts and public prosecutors, where the needfor "yes Sahib" and " salaam Sahib" is more necessary than competence and educational backgrounds. If the constables are educated and smart, they will not do such yes sir jobs! The IAS/IPS is another dinosaur that somehow evades extiction.In todays modern world where managerial skills are more needed, we have this colonial system of training still followed. These government officers are so callous, that they have no sympathy towards victims and their families, and only try to save their own skins! God & our own vigilance alone can save us from such apathy! What the public will like to know is how this 15 year old girl was left alone without adult supervison?
GOA SHOULD BE FORBIDDEN FOR FOREIGN AND INLAND TOURISTS. GOA POLICE ARE NOT PERFORMING DUTIES HONESTLY AND FOR WHAT THEY ARE COMMITTED FOR, A FOREIGN TOURIST OF 15 YEARS WAS NOT LOOKED AFTER BY THEM SEQUARELY.
RE:RE: SECOND AUTOPSY ON 15 YEARS SCARLETTE KEELING
by aggi soares on Mar 07, 2008 03:30 PM Permalink
Do you have any idea what you talking about... goan ppl cant go after 8 pm these tourist beats goan.. These tourist are beggers go to their country and see what they do.. government feeding them.. they don't have proper place to stay and at young age they go prison takes drugs.. don't talk without seeing with your naked eyes
RE:RE: SECOND AUTOPSY ON 15 YEARS SCARLETTE KEELING
by nitin on Mar 07, 2008 11:55 PM Permalink
Prakash, Your argument is like throwing the baby with the bath water. There will be criminal acts no matter how much police enforcement is available. I personally know Goan people are 1000 times better treating tourists and outisiders than other states.
If the 2nd autopsy shows different findings, all involved in the 1st autoposy shud be sacked and jailed. This will ensure that we do not have such cases in future.
RE:Would the Congress Govt do it ?
by Great Opportunity on Mar 07, 2008 12:39 PM Permalink
Absolutely right. They should be treated as criminals and should be dealt that way only.
Like RR Patil of Maharashtra, the Goa Home Minister must be a busy moral policing minister who wants to stop Valentines day, put Bar girls behind prison bars, protect law breakers of New year day and various other works other than protecting the citizens which is his basic duty as per the oath he has taken when he became minister.
The culprits should not be spared, even if they are Minister's friends or big drug mafia bosses. India is already reeling under ' tourist unsafe' tag and this will further jeoparadise our further hope promoting tourism. Where is Renuka Choudury and her party colleagues?? Come on.. have a heart!!!!! Is it because there is a Central Government's party that is ruling Goa she is not commenting. Leave Politics and take up the mater with Goa higher ups...please
RE:Protection & Police
by adn on Mar 07, 2008 12:18 PM Permalink
Very well said Manali. As for Renuka, she comes on TV for all the wrong reasons. These useless politicians do not have their priorities right. There screw ups would lead to a big dip in tourism revenues which is a billion dollar industry.
RE:Protection & Police
by Junglee on Mar 07, 2008 01:34 PM Permalink
These politicians are screwing each other and the whole contry too. All of them have infinite place under the Indian ocean. But, who will push them there?
At first I must regret the loss of a young life and my condolences to her mother and family.
The fact of the matter remains that the girl died from drowning after an overdose of drugs and or alcohol. It is sad that someone so young should be using drugs and alcohol and what was a child doing alone in Goa under the "care" of a stranger? Her mother needs to answer a few questions.
It seems that her mother may have some vested interests in making a hullaballo of this sad incident for reasons of insurance , extended free stay in Goa at the cost of the British embassy and other issues.
The media has just gone overboard with all sorts of rumours and the Goa Police & Govt PR is lousy and non-existent to the least.
The second autopsy will clear things up and the mother and the media will end up a lot of egg on their faces. Hope the media learns its lessons
Goa is safe and secure for normal, sincere good tourists. Mess around with unwanted elements, drugs and other nefarious activities and the risk is theirs
RE:Media Hype
by nitin on Mar 08, 2008 12:05 AM Permalink
True Indian,
Even drug addicts doing deserve to be raped and killed. You can't be sure that she just drowned with overdose of drug and alcohol.
I can't understand your argument mother is doing this to get extended stay in Goa. Would you not do the same thing is someone you love was harmed/killed this way.
I can understand the outrage Manali had in this thread.
RE:Media Hype
by on Mar 19, 2008 01:15 AM Permalink
i have known this mother and her young kids for quite a couple of years.this girl was very beautiful,though 15 she looked as grown as 24year old.i have a garment shop in panjim and this family frequented us,i have never seen her buying any sensible clothing.you lift ur skirt up and blame men of rape,wat work she had staying out at midnight ,drunk under-dressed. and mingling with boys,wasnt she n open invitation for all other elements.come to goa and see if you find any local goan girl out after 10pm on shacks. as of wat i feel of this incident the way her mother behaved with her daughter while shopping etc,there must have been a void in their relationship,her mother behaves and acts as if a drug dealer,may be she goes on such consignments to gokarn.there are many israelis like them in goa too.who are cheap back packers and firangis.no doubt there should be no mercy for the evil murderers but it should be an eye opener for other tourists to behave in a code of respect.men r no saints here.
RE:Media Hype
by avnish gupta on Mar 07, 2008 12:21 PM Permalink
U may be true but the facts should be established If the girl was defaulter it shoukld be mde public so the image of our country does not go down if she was innocent the culprits to be punsihed
RE:Media Hype
by chak chak on Mar 07, 2008 12:38 PM Permalink
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT SHE DIED IN THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE CLAIMED ???? ARE YOU A WITNESS ???? ELSE WHY DONT YOU JUST SHUT UP ????
RE:RE:Media Hype
by Shankar on Mar 07, 2008 12:41 PM Permalink
Y so aggressive chak chak??? its his point of view.... I think these forums simply bring out the beast in everyone.
RE:Media Hype
by Manali Thomas on Mar 07, 2008 12:21 PM Permalink
What kind of heart you have?? Have you got a thing called ' heart'? A young lady died at an age of 15 and you bas..d are heaping on her all kinds of accusations like drug addict, no one to take care, vested interest of mother etc!! Shame on you calling yourself '' true Indian" Forget about being 'Indian' you are worse than a human being, an animal even.
Best of luck to your family... if they are humans.
RE:Media Hype
by Shankar on Mar 07, 2008 12:40 PM Permalink
Her mom actually feels the drug mafia is behind this, so in all probability the girl might have been associated with drugs....so, what True Indian says has weight, and Manali is simply making a big fuss of this...women...
RE:RE:Media Hype
by nitin on Mar 08, 2008 12:07 AM Permalink
You seem like a misogynist. Even if the girl was a drug addict or took drugs doesn't prove that she accidently drowned.
RE:Media Hype
by Srinivasan Krishna on Mar 07, 2008 01:18 PM Permalink
Manali, The meassge of True Indian is a bit strong. It is a great pity the life, especially of a forign tourist, was tragically lost, in a country which believes " Adhiti Devo Bhava". That does not give a right for you to abuse him, his family all at one go. We do not know the circumstances behind the death. It is indeed mysterious to all how a girl of 15 be left without adult supervision.If adult supervision was there, what is their story? We even do not know what ecatly the autopsy report says, as mostly if things like drugs, alcohol abuse is found in such cases, the government agencies are sensitive enough not to publish them. The issue is our ( i am including you, your family as a part of our, OK) government made up of mine and your relatives or brethren sucks! Infact from your comments, you have exposed your mental level!
The govt. should take some drastic steps to improve Indian Tourism.....I am resident of France....I very often visit mumbai, goa,delhi,bangalore,etc....for business purpose....what i found is that in many places tourist have no protection...even if we take a cab or buy any stuff or visit any places......people try to exort money taking advantage of our foreign base....I find very touching seeing many poor people...but at the same time I feel irritated what other people and the govt. are not doing anything to uplift their plight????????
RE:Indian Tourism
by Gautam Sinha on Mar 07, 2008 12:15 PM Permalink
Bonjour. Please visit our country and please be advised that it is an acceptable practise to take more money from tourists everywhere. Please think of additional amount as tip. I know thats unfair but sometime even before my birth white tourists have given the locals this kind of image about rich guys and it continues. I also find it touching that you too feel for our poor. Regarding safety, you are as safe as any other Indian citizen ,in fact safer as you can get away with many things that Indians cannot. But stay away from Bars and drug dens. Nothing can be done if you get into that loop
What a pity. Does everyone here not know that our ministers themselves are the mafia dons who later supervise all the cover ups. Same ministers give assurances to the victims "keep me updated about the details.... and you know what I want"
RE:Crime Minister
by Soumitra Goswami on Mar 07, 2008 12:14 PM Permalink
I fully agree with you and really it's a pity that we expect justice in India and some say not to vote a crime. All hooligans are ruling the country with the mask of decent gentleman Manmohon Singh. Be ware that's the only advice.
