Police instructed to ensure safety of Kashmiris in Goa

Panaji, Feb 22 (IANS) Goa Police officers have been instructed to ensure the safety of people from Jammu and Kashmir residing in Goa, in the wake of attacks and acts of intimidation of residents of the conflict-ridden state, Director General of Police Muktesh Chander said on Friday."We have asked our Superintendents of Police North and South districts and the Special Branch to look after the safety of Kashmiris and act in case any issue arises," Chander told reporters here.Incidents of violence and intimidation have increased in several states across the country after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy that left 40 troopers dead.According to police statistics, currently there are around 2,000 Kashmiris residing in Goa, mostly trading in handicrafts, carpets and gemstones in the tourism-friendly coastal belt.
--IANS maya/mag/ab