Womens (wing) of congress party Protest against rising crime against women in Goa
Panaji: Braving sweltering heat and high humidity, the Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress on Saturday staged a protest march to Azad Maidan, here, condemning the rising cases of crimes against women and children in Goa.The march was led by its President Dr Pratiksha Khalap and witnessed participation from a good number of Mahila Congress workers and leaders, including Amit Patkar, President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee.
The women protesters marched with placards and raised slogans, underscoring what they described as a worsening law-and-order situation in the state.
Addressing the media near the Congress House, a few blocks from Azad Maidan, Dr Khalap alleged that Goa was increasingly gaining notoriety for crime rather than its traditional image as a tourist destination. She criticised the BJP leadership, taking aim at state BJP President Damu Naik for what she termed his “lethargic stand” in the Curchorem incident.
As the march progressed, Mahila Congress workers raised slogans against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government, calling it a “bhalatkari sarkar” and questioning the silence of BJP Mahila workers in the case. Protesters accused the government of failing to ensure women’s safety.
Addressing the media, Amit Patkar described the situation as “grave,” claiming that at least nine rape cases were being officially recorded every month in Goa.
He also criticised Damu Naik for allegedly distancing himself from the family of the main accused in the Curchorem case, asserting that the accused had links to the BJP. Patkar further claimed that there could be over 100 victims connected to the case.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Patkar alleged that the state administration had “collapsed” under his leadership. He called for stronger institutional responses, including counselling support for school students, particularly in areas where minors were reportedly exploited.
Key demands raised during the protest included the immediate resignation of Sushant Naik, father of the Curchorem case accused, citing moral responsibility and fears of interference in the investigation. Protesters also demanded the appointment of counsellors in every school in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), the immediate appointment of a chairperson to the Goa State Commission for Women, and stronger government commitment toward women’s safety and welfare.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, the Mahila Congress shared alarming statistics: one child affected every day in 2025; 269 cases reported in just nine months of 2025; 76% of rape victims being minors in 2022; and 93% of accused known to the victims. They also pointed to the 2026 case of Curchorem involving the alleged exploitation of more than 25-30 or more minors.
According to the data presented, 57 out of 75 rape victims in 2022 were minors. Goa recorded 106 rape cases in 2024, while 269 crimes against minors were reported between January and September 2025. Crimes against women showed a steady rise: 219 cases in 2020, 280 in 2022, 290 in 2023, and over 365 in 2024, the highest so far. In 2025, 206 cases were recorded in just six months, averaging nearly one case per day.
The protest concluded with a strong call for systemic reforms, particularly the mandatory appointment of at least one trained counsellor in every school across Goa. Mahila Congress leaders stressed that the rising numbers represent not just statistics but a “serious social crisis” requiring immediate government intervention.
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