Margao, 9 November: Strongly condemning the reported rape of a minor girl in Mapusa during the Diwali festivities, Madganvcho Awaaz youth leader Prabhav Naik has accused the government of failing to ensure the safety of women and children, describing the prevailing situation as an everyday “Narkasur Raj” in Goa.

“While Goa celebrated the Festival of Lights, symbolising the victory of good over evil, an innocent minor girl’s childhood was brutally shattered in Mapusa. This horrific incident exposes the dark reality of the everyday Narkasur Raj prevailing in our State,” Naik stated.

Expressing deep anguish over the incident, Naik said the victim had reportedly accompanied her family to Mapusa market, where they were selling balloons during the Diwali celebrations. He questioned how children could feel safe even in crowded public places and demanded stringent action against the accused.

Naik also raised concerns over several past crimes that have remained unresolved, questioning the effectiveness of policing and criminal investigations in Goa.

Referring to the mysterious death of Siddhi Naik in August 2021, he said her family was still awaiting answers and justice. He recalled that the Chief Minister, in a reply to the Goa Legislative Assembly in February 2024, had confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.

He further highlighted the January 2013 sexual assault of a seven-year-old schoolgirl on school premises in Vasco. Despite the Central Bureau of Investigation taking over the case and conducting a prolonged investigation, the perpetrator remained unidentified. The Children’s Court accepted the CBI’s closure report in August 2026, bringing the investigation to a close without identifying the offender.

Naik alleged that Goa was increasingly acquiring the disturbing image of a “Destination of Crimes”, citing cases involving murders and the transportation of victims’ bodies across State borders.

He referred to the January 2024 Candolim case in which a mother was arrested in Karnataka after allegedly murdering her four-year-old son at a service apartment in Goa and transporting his body in a suitcase.

He also recalled the 2023 Porvorim murder case involving a young woman whose body was allegedly transported by the accused and an accomplice before being dumped at Amboli Ghat in Maharashtra.

“These horrifying incidents raise serious questions about public safety, the effectiveness of law enforcement and the accountability of those responsible for protecting citizens,” Naik said.

Demanding immediate corrective measures, Naik called for stronger child protection systems, effective policing, improved surveillance in vulnerable public spaces and swift, impartial investigations into crimes against women and children.

He stressed that government assurances on public safety must be backed by concrete action, institutional accountability and measures capable of preventing such crimes.

Naik said the latest Mapusa incident, together with the unresolved questions surrounding the Siddhi Naik case and the Vasco school assault, should serve as a wake-up call for the government and law enforcement agencies.

“Goa cannot continue witnessing such horrifying crimes while families live in fear for the safety of their daughters. The everyday Narkasur Raj must end. Protecting the safety, dignity and innocence of every girl child must become an uncompromising priority,” Naik asserted.