Clothes a parameter to identify terrorists: Goa police

Be careful with what you are wearing the next time you are in Goa or else you run the risk of being mistaken for a terrorist. In a broad guidelines on identification of terrorists, Goa police, ahead of New Year celebrations, has said that a person wearing clothes unsuited for the season can be a suspicious character. A terrorist can be identified by clothes unsuited for the season of the year like wearing a coat or jacket in summer, says a posting on Goa police website (www.goapolice.gov.in).

In yet another parameter, police have said that a person trying to blend with his surroundings by his dress and behaviour, though he doesn’t belong to the group can be a suspicious character. The website also advices people to be alert as anything protruding unnaturally under his (suspects?) clothing can be arms or explosives. The state, which is receiving thousands of tourists ahead of the New Year celebrations, has appealed citizens to contact 100 control room number in case of suspicion or emergency.

Goa Police have also said that number plates looking ‘improved’ or ‘mismatched’ can be an object of suspicion. “Call 100 at once and give as many details as possible if you have any information that may help in apprehending suspects or about the suspect or the suspicious vehicle or locate a vehicle involved,” the website reads. After going through a very high security drill last year, this time, Goa is on general alert due to presence of large number of tourists here.

State Home Minister Ravi Naik in the recently concluded Assembly session had said that Goa can be a target of Pakistan-based militant organizations due to presence of UK, USA and Israeli citizens here. A rough estimate by state Tourism Department reveals that around three lakh tourists are present in the state for the New Year festivities.