Goa police to issue new advisory on fake cops

The alert comes on the heels of the recent gang rape of two women tourists from Delhi by youth posing as cops

Goa Police will issue a fresh advisory to ask people to beware of conmen posing as cops, after the recent gang rape of two women tourists from Delhi, a top police official said on Friday.

"Definitely, I request all people to be careful of fake policemen. Please ask for the identity card of policemen if they approach you," Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg said.

Criminals posing as police personnel have been a headache for Goa Police for the last couple of years, forcing it to issue an advisory to the general public in 2013 on the matter.

"The public is advised to be more careful about persons who claim to be policemen but cheat them. Ask for their identification as soon as they approach you. Do not interact with any person who poses as a policeman, especially if the said person is in civil clothes," the 2013 advisory said.

While a majority of crimes committed by fake policemen in the past have been limited to snatching of gold or money, the June 1 gang-rape is the first reported instance of sexual violence by such a gang in the tourist state in recent times.

Five people were arrested on Tuesday for posing as policemen and then abducting, beating and sexually assaulting two young women tourists from Delhi who were holidaying at a popular beach stretch in Goa.