Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on Tuesday said that there was no need of a CBI probe into the death case of British national Scarlette Eden Keeling and the state police was efficient enough to handle it.
"We will be able to crack the case in next two days and I have full faith in the officers who are handling the investigations. There is no need of a CBI enquiry," he said.
"We are also looking into the allegations on police officers at Anjuna police station and we have already shunted a police sub inspector Nerlon Albuquerque in this connection," Kamat added.
Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni also sidestepped demand by Brinda Karat (CPM) of her ministry supporting the demand for CBI probe into the death of the British tourist, Scarlett Keeling in Goa. "I have no powers on security and safety (as law and order is state subject)," she said.
"The prevention of crime, including crimes against tourists, is the primary responsibility of state governments/union territories," she said.
Following recent reports in the media regarding harassment and misbehavior with tourists in India, the Ministry of Tourism discussed the issue of safety and security of tourists with Secretaries of Tourism of states/UTs and the ministries of home affairs and defence.
"Ensuring safety and security of tourists is of paramount importance and state governments must ensure the same," she said.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Parliament on Tuesday, Ambika Soni said the Home and Defence Ministries had a January 24 meeting agreed to the constitution of Tourism Task Force comprising retired army personnel.
"Structure and blueprint of the Task Force has been drawn out and sent to the state governments so that it is put in place at the earliest possible," she said.
The Task Force made up of tourist wardens, who will man monuments and most frequented tourist places like beaches, will be in addition to Tourism Police Force set up in 10 states, she said.
Fiona Mackeown, mother of the British teenager who was found dead on Goa's popular Anjuna beach on February 18, had yesterday demanded a CBI inquiry in the case.
Amidst uproar over killing of British teenager in Goa, the Government on Tuesday said it has proposed deploying ex-servicemen as tourist wardens at tourist attractions in the country.
With Agency inputs
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