>From race issues to a spotlight on crime, cops and local pushers Pamela D'Mello dmello.pam...@gmail.com
On October 31, when some sixty Nigerian nationals erupted in anger at the murder of their compatriot, blocking peak morning hour traffic on National Highway 17, they projected themselves right into the public glare. The state reacted with shock and anger. The blockade was compounded further by lumpen elements in the vicinity rallying around for two further bouts of blockades, this time round demanding police hand over Nigerians to the Goan mob. Two Nigerian nationals straggling behind as the rest of their countrymen left for the Mapusa police station, were thrashed by the mobs -- the footage drawing widespread condemnation. In subsequent news and social media reactions, a section of Goans, venting their anger at the cautious approach of the police, invited allegations of racism from the national media. In a knee jerk reaction, playing to public sentiment, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar ordered a verification drive on all Nigerians in the state, exacerbating a spiraling diplomatic row and drawing comments from Nigeria that the government was "rubbing salt on the wounds" of Nigerians. In the propaganda blitz launched by the Goa police the focus in the state media stayed on the alleged "drug" connection of the West African community and its lack of travel documents, visas and the like. Ministers of the BJP ruled state compounded matters with statements dubbing Nigerians as a cancerous growth in the state (a remark the minister in question later withdrew). "In all these allegations, the main issue of the Nigerian who was murdered was lost," says Advocate Raju Poulekar, representing some of the 52 Nigerians who were arrested for the October 31 protest. The government further compromised its position when it charged the rioting Nigerians under stringent "attempt to murder" charges, while choosing to bring no charges against members of the mob that attacked the isolated single Nigerians that morning. It was only when the Nigerian High Commission threatened retaliatory action against Indians in Nigeria, demanded justice in the murder and protested before the Indian Union government, that two locals were arrested in the murder case. Unfolding police investigations into the murder reveal a gruesome episode that has since silenced public here and reveal the cause for Nigerian anger that morning. Gangs, police, political patronage ---------------------------------- Officially the state government has told the Centre that the murder was a fallout of a fight for supremacy in the drug trade in coastal areas of North Goa. Sources suggest that a group of Nigerians, bringing in cocaine and heroin, were seeking to expand their footprint in the distribution network along the nightclub and party belt in North Goa, leading to clashes with local gangs reigning in the area, that enjoy both police and political protection. Police and other sources suggest that several incidents of fistfights, and knifings between the two groups prior to October 30, had even resulted in some complaints being filed before the police against each other. After one such fight, police arrested two Nigerians on October 31 at the Anjuna police station, while a local mob waited outside apparently seeking retribution. Since the Nigerians were unable to procure bail that night, the local gang is believed to have ridden through the area, allegedly indiscriminately targeting disconnected Africans they encountered en route to neighboring Parra, where a number of Africans are known to reside. Nigerians present at a bar and restaurant in the village were attacked, as was the victim who was allegedly isolated some distance away. Police have since said the victim had never been involved in any prior drug related matter, while other sources suggest he was an innocent casualty in the violence, triggering off anger among his compatriots, who took their protest to the street, demanding the presence of embassy officials at the autopsy. Since then, sections of the media have put the focus on two local BJP legislators with business and influence in the Anjuna, Chapora, Vagator area, where the gang accused of the murder operates. Unlike the urbanised areas of Calangute, Candolim and Baga, where tourists flock in the thousands each day and the drug trade is believed to be dissipated, with scores of freelance players out to make a quick buck -- distribution in the rural areas around Anjuna are believed to be within the control of local gangs, with reach within the police and political network. Within days, panchayats within these legislative segments, passed resolutions banning renting of rooms to Nigerians, a rent-a-bike association took a similar course, while banners proclaiming "Say No to Nigerians, Say No to Drugs" went up in some areas, steping up the heat on West Africans. The orchestrated anti-Nigerian rhetoric scaled down under the glare of the national and international media, but not before the manipulation of public opinion earned Goans the tag of racists. "It is wrong to evict anyone because of their race, colour and creed. But any anti social activity should be investigated and dealt with fairly," feels Ian Henriques, Manager of the St Anthony's Hospital and Research Centre in Anjuna. Some Nigerians are willing to admit that the highway protest led by some 8-10 of the more "hot-blooded" Nigerians was wrong and swung public opinion against their community. "The Nigerians were angry, because what happened on October 31 was the last straw in the growing racial targeting of all West Africans by some in the tourist trade," says lawyer Caroline Collaco. Joe Prince, a Nigerian residing in Goa and engaged in exporting apparel from Tirupur, South India, to his country, told this correspondent that an incident at Baga's Tito lane in 2012 had even been referred to the high commission for its brutality and unfairness. A local "big-shot" wheeling his car into the pedestrianized Tito's lane one night, accidentally hit a Nigerian man, triggering an argument. When the former sought a minister's intervention, local police ordered to take action with the assistance of bouncers are believed to have gone on an indiscriminate rampage against all Nigerians on that street. "One moment I was sitting in the restaurant talking, the next someone was punching me. I was severely hurt and in hospital with multiple fractures. And then they wrongly booked us for fighting amongst ourselves. I had to pay Rs 15,000 to come out of prison," Prince said. Now he finds it galling that several upscale clubs indiscriminately bar the entry of all Africans. Alexander Shauun, Manager of Arpora's Club Cubana however told this correspondent, "There is no discrimination on the basis of any nationality. Across the board, we do not take in 'stags'." Another nightclub manager justifies the informal ban. "When some of them so openly push drugs on the street outside, what are we to do? We cannot risk them doing that inside the club." Certainly tourism players in the belt openly voice their distaste for some West Africans, accusing them of other practices in the area. The belief here in official circles is that Nigerians welcome cases filed against them, as it helps them stay on longer in the country. Since 2010, the Goa police have booked 240 Nigerians for various offences, including overstaying, accidents, narcotic and other offences. Destruction of travel documents is another accusation, with the Goa police pointing out that only one person of the 52 arrested for the recent riot had his original passport, one other had an original residential permit issued by the Hyderabad Foreigners Registration Office, 12 others had photocopies of passports, while 38 were without any documents. Under the spotlight ------------------- Either way, the recent incident and murder has put the spotlight not just on the Nigerians and other foreigners working the drug trade in Goa, but also onto local involvement and gangs operating the peddling and distribution end of the trade in touristic coastal Goa, as well as the local pusher-police-politician nexus. Police say the entry consignments of cocaine, heroin, MDMA and Ecstasy tablets are sourced from foreign nationals bringing them in, while charas comes from North India. They also add that in addition to Nigerians, persons of other nationalities including Russian, Israelis, British and other nationals have been found involved and have been arrested for narcotic possession. Even law enforcement officials have been tainted with involvement in the trade.The Goa Police's Anti Narcotic Cell has yet to live down the ignominy of having seven of its officers implicated in the Yaniv Benaim (alias Atala) case of 2010, where the latter, an Israeli national, was caught on camera boasting of his payoffs to some police. Twenty four kilograms of charas had been found missing from the police muddamal (seized property), apparently rerouted to dealers, in a scandal that still casts a pall over the department. Earlier this week, police reportedly suspended yet another constable for his alleged role in tipping off the local gang in the Nigerian case. Race, colour and persuasion it would seem matter little in this game. ###