Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031854711300.htm

National

Goa against visa extension for Mackeown

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: The Goa government has decided to write to Union Home Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry not to extend the visa of British national Fiona Mackeown, mother of slain British teenager Scarlette Keeling.

Ms. Mackeown had recently accused Home Minister Ravi Naik and Goa Director General of Police B.S. Brar of having nexus with drug mafia and threatened to move the court to “expose criminal-police-politician nexus responsible for cover-up of the case.”

Addressing presspersons here on Monday evening, Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik said the State government would demand that visa provisions be made stringent to ensure that history-sheeters and foreigners with shady background did not come to Goa as tourists.

Inquiry

Mr. Naik said he would write to the Centre as well as British government giving details of Ms. Mackeown’s alleged criminal background and suggest that they not re-issue her visa.

He said that the State was inquiring into her background and sources of income.

“How can she travel with six children to India without any source of income? Why was she frequently visiting Gokarna in Karnataka? We are investigating everything,” Mr. Naik said.