Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has claimed that more than 90% of crimes reported in the state are committed by migrants.
Sawant made the statement in the Goa Assembly on Tuesday while responding to Opposition MLAs’ questions about the state’s law and order situation. He said many migrants come to Goa for work but some become involved in crimes such as robbery, rape and dacoity.
Sawant Calls Tenant and Labourer Verification Important
Speaking about steps to control crime, Sawant said police verification of tenants and migrant workers was necessary to improve security.
“First and among the foremost things that the police department has done is verification of labourers and tenants,” he said.
The Chief Minister also urged people not to rent their homes to unknown persons without first getting their backgrounds verified by the police.
Sawant had made a similar claim in 2023, when he said migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were responsible for around 90% of crimes in Goa. He later said that his remarks had been “twisted by some political leaders”.
Opposition Raises Questions Over Rape Cases
Opposition MLA Viresh Borkar raised concerns over the rise in rape cases in the state. According to data cited in the Assembly, the number of rape cases increased by 43%, from 72 in 2021 to 103 in 2025.
Responding to the issue, Sawant said the figures recorded in 2023 might “seem” high because many cases involved relationship-related disputes.
He said some cases were linked to live-in relationships that had broken down or failed love affairs.
The Chief Minister also cited cases involving minors eloping with people they knew, underage marriages among migrant workers that came to light during pregnancy, and extramarital relationships that later resulted in police complaints.
Sawant Says CCTV Cannot Stop All Thefts
Sawant also said increasing the number of security cameras would not necessarily prevent thefts.
He claimed that criminals had become aware of surveillance systems and “know how to switch off CCTVs now”.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came during a wider discussion in the Assembly on crime, migrant workers and measures to improve law and order in Goa.
