John Fernandes, accused in the Russian girl's rape case, is absconding since Tuesday evening after his anticipatory bail was rejected by the Bombay High Court.
Goa police Public Relations Officer Atmaram Deshpande confirmed this on Wednesday evening and said that the police were on the look out for him.
Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on December 14, Russian Consul General Alexander Mantytsky has expressed disappointment at the manner in which the police probe was progressing.
Expressing concern at the increasing crimes against women in Goa, the Consul in Mumbai said the mission was willing to tell its citizens not to go out after 10 p.m. in Goa, if it helped the situation. The indirect reference was apparently to remarks by the Chief Minister in the national electronic media suggesting that the tourists should not be going around during late hours.
The Consul has indicated that it would have to issue a travel advisory for its people back home if Goa government did not tighten security and accord appropriate safety to Russian tourists.
"Great concern"
In the letter, the copies of which have been marked to Goa Home Minister and Tourism Minister, the Consul General has said that "the incidents where Russian citizens are victim of crime in Goa have caused a great public concern in our country. Because of poor security situation in Goa, foreign tourists might become victims of crime."
