Old Goa: The Goa police and other state agencies conducted mock drill around Basilica of Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa ahead of the novenas and feast of St Francis Xavier starting from November 25.
A senior police official said that the mock drill was conducted on Wednesday under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (North) Nidhin Valsan and the Church authorities.
He said that during the mock drill, police captured two dummy terrorists and neutralized a dummy bomb in a bag, both near Basilica of Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa.
The Old Goa police, Anti Terrorist Squad, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, Dog Squad, Fire and Emergency Services and Health department participated in this exercise.
Police said that during the exercise, around 800 people including tourists and devotees were safely taken out in seven minutes without any panic and total drill was concluded within twenty-two minutes.
The novenas and the feast of St Francis Xavier will be held from November 25 till December 4. Thousands of devotees from across the world throng at Old Goa to pray to St Francis Xavier, whose relics are preserved at the church here.
