Panaji : Activities of Russians and Israelis in two coastal villages in Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s assembly constituency were “suspicious” and need surveillance, a parliamentarian said on Monday.
Goa’s Rajya Sabha member Shantaram Naik said this to union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was in Goa to attend a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee attached to the union home ministry to discuss issues related to coastal security.
“Morjim and Mandrem are two villages where Russians and Israelis are very active from various points of view. I also requested to keep vigil on some of the elements,” Naik said, adding that the home minister took note of the issue.
The villages are located in Mandrem assembly constituency, from where Parsekar has been elected for the last decade and a half.
The two places are popular with Russian tourists and host a large chunk of the one lakh-odd Russians who visit Goa every year.
Naik said the committee was apprised of “lamanis” (members of a nomadic tribe of central India), who “disturb” traders and indulge in drug trade during the tourist season.
The Congress MP said the committee also discussed the possibility of incorporating fishermen into the coastal security apparatus, so that they “serve as eyes and ears” of the government agencies on matters related to coastal security.