Settling in Goa - help!

soobidoo

Hello,
Have been running around in (mental) circles for days now wondering where to go for help/support and then this morning I remembered how useful I found your site prior to coming back to India earlier this year, so here I am!!

I recently moved to Goa after marrying my Indian National husband in Delhi as he worked here for the last 3 years.

We have many friends but also, it seems, quite a few instant enemies and I'm hoping some of your members may have some advice?
It started as business rivalry which we largely ignored but has escalated into my brother in law being hospitalised and the guests at our recent marriage celebrations (the marriage in Delhi was the 'legal bit', this was the party) being threatened and then our power cable being cut which curtailed quite a few hours of prospective drunken dancing!!

I am not directly involved in the business but obviously they have guessed correctly that I have supplied some of the funding...

One suggestion which seems to make some sense is to join the local church or some community group - the police are involved but haven't been a great deal of help to date.

Otherwise I'm loving it here and our weddng was amazing (even if I say so myself!) - will post some pics when I get better organised!

machadinha

Hm. No real advice. Suggest reading these two massive threads if you can muster it to gain some general idea:

Foreign owned property in Goa, (Part One)
Foreign owned property in Goa, (part Two)

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soobidoo

Thanks, have read those threads previously but I suppose I could refresh my recollections!

We don't own any property though, my husband is managing a beach shack and a restaurant on behalf of the respective owners?

Just looking for advice on generally 'fitting in' or maybe on any other long termers in Goa who could share any experiences they've had?

Just finding it all a bit stressful, and I'm newly pregnant also so trying to steer a positive path and not get too intimidated by the actions which are obviously designed purely to do just that!

machadinha

Maybe (I'm not being cynical) you could take a breath and try to describe what really besets you.

Is it property issues? General acclimitization? Or other?

I may be reading too sloppily but this is totally unclear to me from the above.

soobidoo

You're correct, I was being vague as it seemed a little over the top to start with a rant!
My husband has taken a contract to manage a restaurant in south goa from the man who was previously his boss. The new restaurant next door took exception to this and began to threaten the staff and generally be nuisances. We went to talk to the owner and got a rant about 'foreign money' etc., and the assurance that they would make life impossible for us as they just plain didn't like us as we are not Goan.
We ignored all this. They smashed up some of the restaurant property and attacked one of the waiters - he wasn't hurt so we pretty much ignored this too. Twice more they trashed stuff then the staff started receiving death threats and my husband saw red and retaliated (stupid I know!) as ignoring them obviously wasn't working. The next morning 3 men came with sticks and attacked my brother in law - he spent 48 hours in hospital.
Our wedding guests arrived from Delhi and were told that they would continue to cause problems for us as we weren't local. etc. etc.
Most of the local business people are fine with us and we definitely have friends but I don't know how to calm the situation down and our Goan friends' suggestions are all pretty much illegal! As I write this it all sounds pretty hopeless I know, but we are honestly trying to stay positive and looking for things we could try as don't want to throw the towel in if that makes sense.

shashank.aggarwal

<Cross Posted with Soobido>

me too !! I am not able to understand what you are trying to say !!

What I can make out is that you and your spouse are trying to run a shack in Goa and you are being harassed by other business owners ?

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shashank.aggarwal

Now that you have clarified the situation, approach the local police station and file an FIR, if they do not just insist on the same...meet the SHO, escalate the issue in the police ranks.

If police do not listen, the call the media and tell them that police are not registering the case !!

jyotirmoy

Is the owner of the shack that your husband is managing a native of Goa? You must have informed him about this, and what is his suggestion?
For quite some time now such business is sliping out of Goan hands and going to people of north west Karanataka and I have found most of them to be very aggressive.
Foreign investment in property & busdiness is a big isssue now with political overtones.
Have you reported the assault on your brother-in-law to the police? If yes the cops response will give you an idea about the nexus between your neighbour and the cops.
Approaching Church will not yield any result in my opinion.
Always think well before acting, such matters often turn real nasty.

soobidoo

Thanks folks,
The owner of the restaurant is the brother of the guy doing the harrassing so he says he is ashamed of his brother's actions but is too stressed to get further involved! He did support us initially (and still does in all other matters) but I guess blood is thicker than water?
The police have registered my husband's complaint and told the guy that they'll arrest him if anything further happens. They did also tell him that husband, as an indian, is entitled to run a business safely anywhere in indian and that they were acting illegally but the threats and sabotage are still coming - a further police man came and suggested my husband pay them off...!!??
Husband also involved in a beach shack for a different Goan owner and they've begun to harrass the staff there too now - I just want it to stop! Wary, as you rightly suggest, that some actions may just make things a whole lot worse.

jyotirmoy

What do you mean by cops registering your husband's complain? Has a formal FIR(First information report)been registerd? If yes you are supposed to have a copy too. Do you have witneeses who would testify? If answer to both are yes you can seek legal help.
Blood is thicker than water yes, but it should work both way, I don't understand why the two brothers can not come to a settlement.

soobidoo

The two waiters who were beaten have each made a statement at the police station, and my husband has a copy of the 'non-cognizable complaint' he made which is some general waffle about business rivalry and sabotage as far as I can tell.

From what I understand no charges have been made formally as local friends (and I believe the police!) all said this would be a waste of time as advocates and legal system so corrupt we'd just be lining their pockets for no benefit but I'm definitely going to ensure husband follows this route if anything else happens which is witnessed.

Just feel so helpless when all the routes you'd go to in the UK with confidence seem to be, errr, less than reliable in terms of bias??

Thank goodness brother in law has made full recovery.

Nick-H

I sympathise, and hope very much that you have not put too much of your own money into what is somebody else's property.

You have been put into a place by the owner; the owner's brother is now attacking you; the owner is too stressed out to help.

Well, this owner is obviously a useless wimp full of cop-out excuses... or maybe he wants to get on to the next person he'll give a contract to?

Criminal violence is going on, and the police are filing it under business rivalry? Seems obvious who is lining their pockets.

Any way, pretty impossible to make judgements without being much better informed, but it sounds to me like a situation which is not going to be healthy for you in the long term --- unless you can get some good friendship and support in the local community.

I'd cut my losses and get out of there.

Wishing you well...

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jyotirmoy

As per law any hospital recieving a person with injuries caused by road accidents or acts of violence for treatment must report to police and a case is automatically registered.
Some private nursing home may not do so and treat it as a minor accident at home and in case of any legal battle proving physical assault may be difficult.
I have a feeling that this guy is trying to take over the shack from his brother either by consent or otherwise and the contract signed with your husband is coming in the way.

Anders

I have no real advice to offer you but i have to admit that I'm not to surprised, there is a lot of strange things happening in Goa. As for the police, the Goan police are the best that money can buy.

capt_mahajan

Chances are good both the brothers are in cahoots, though it is impossible for me to be sure.

I would first go to the brother I took the shack from and ask for my money back, or indicate I would stop paying (if a regular payment was the deal) unless he sorted his brother out.


Broadly you have the following options
-walk away
-fight legally
-fight outside the law

Which option you take depends on many variables, but do consider that the last option can esaclate very quickly, and one you may not be able to walk away easily from.

The second option is long, crazy, and choosing that may well mean that the other side will resort to strong arm tactics, ie the 3rd option.
If you know that the cops are in league with any of the brothers, forget this option.

Either way, I would strongly suggest you answer one basic question to yourself before you start.. how much, how long and how hard do you want to fight?

Good luck.