Canacona, Sept 12: The transfer of Canacona Police Inspector Pravin P. Gawas, barely eight months after he took charge and following an aggressive crackdown on narcotics, has triggered serious questions over its timing particularly just before the start of Goa’s new tourism season.

Gawas, who took charge in January 2026, has been transferred to Talpona Coastal Security Police Station following an order dated September 10. PI Therron S. D’Costa will replace him at Canacona.

During Gawas’s tenure, Canacona Police registered 12 NDPS cases up to September 10, involving cocaine, MDMA, charas, LSD, magic mushrooms and ganja. One of the biggest operations involved the seizure of cocaine valued at over 1 crore. Interestingly he has conducted raid and seized 1 kg of drugs on the day of his transfer.

Significantly, alleged drug kingpin Walter Fernandes remains behind bars and has not secured bail, even as investigations and action against the narcotics trade continue.

Against this backdrop, allegations are now surfacing locally that the drug lobby had been pushing hard for Gawas’s transfer and may have attempted to use political influence. There is, however, no independently verified evidence establishing that the transfer was made under such pressure, making it imperative for the government and Goa Police to clarify the reasons.

The timing has nevertheless fuelled suspicion. Why was an officer leading repeated anti-drug operations shifted just before the new tourism season? Was it merely a routine administrative reshuffle, or were there other considerations behind the decision?

The government has repeatedly championed the goal of a drug-free society. But the Canacona development has now produced a provocative question among those watching the crackdown:

“Nasha Mukt Bharat… or Gawas-Mukt Canacona?”

If the transfer is purely administrative, Goa Police should explain the circumstances transparently. Otherwise, shifting an officer in the midst of an aggressive narcotics crackdown risks sending the wrong message both to police officers fighting the drug trade and to the networks they are expected to dismantle.