Panaji (Goa): The tourist popular state has registered an increase in crimes committed by the foreigners with the highest involved in cheating followed violation of their legal stay in the country. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released by the ministry on Thursday, a total 21 cases of cheating was booked against the foreign nationals last year while 20 were booked under Foreigners Act for staying without valid visa. 

Likewise, 14 foreigners were booked for alleged drug peddling under the NDPS Act. The other heinous crimes committed were murder (01 case), rape (03 cases) and forgery (02 cases). In all, 27 cases under the Indian Penal Code was registered against the foreigners. 

The data further reveals that in 2014 year, the State had 77 cases of crimes committed by foreigners, which dropped to 69 cases in 2015 year and rose to 80 cases last year. 

On the contrary, the total crime against foreigners have witnessed a significant drop with 73, 30 and 22 cases registered in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. These crime included murders, culpable homicide, assault on (foreign) women with intend to outrage her modesty, cheating etc. The NCRB data has however not been able to prove a breakup of the nationalities. 

As per the overall chart, Goa, compared with other states and union territories has been rated as one of the safest states in the country ranked at 28. The total crime has seen a significant decline in the last three years considering that 4466 cases were reported in 2014 year that reduced to 3074 cases in 2015 year and 2692 cases last year. Thirty murder cases, 61 cases of rape among other offenses have been registered last year.

What’s interesting is that Goa has maintained its reputation on living in harmony as not a single case of communal disharmony was reported during this period. However, a total of 143 ‘other rioting’ cases were registered.