‘Organised mafia keeping eye on ancestral houses’ (Herald)

December 4, 2013 PANJIM: This is not an isolated case of evidence that it is an organised mafia that has been keeping an eye on ancestral Goan houses in prime locations with their owners living abroad is found with the office of the Commissioner of NRI Affairs. “There have been many cases. Earlier it was brought to my notice by one George Fernandes a resident of Aldona who was working in Qatar had purchased a property in Nachinola. However, another person by the name of George Fernandes executed a sale deed and sold his property to one Muslim man from Hubli in collusion with the sarpanch of the village. With our help they were arrested ~ the fake George and the sarpanch ~ but now the case is still going on,” Uday Kamat Secretary to the Commissioner of NRI Affairs told Herald. He said that he would like to caution all those staying abroad who have properties here to regularly keep a check on them. “They make a mistake. They should not allow the property to remain unattended, they should fence it and put a sign board asserting their right over the property,” he said. When asked about the low rate of conviction of these crooks he said: “They have to face the law and there are lawyers on both sides.” He however said that the government is considering a law and they are in talks with the Law department about drawing up such a law. http://oheraldo.in/News/main%20page%20news/lsquo-Organised-mafia-keeping-eye-on-ancestral-houses-rsquo/82817.html