According to the internet (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/how-goa-became-a-part-of-india/213318-3.html), the Governor-General of Portuguese India, Manuel António Vassalo e Silva defied then-PM Salazar and surrendered Goa to India on 19 December 1961. Salazar figured if the Portuguese forces in Goa could hold out for a week, that was long enough to raise European sympathies against this "Indian Invasion" and gather some some international military backing. Vassalo calculated that he didn't have enough men or supplies to last that long, so he gave orders to trash the city then hand it over to the Indian forces.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-01-02 11:52 pm (UTC)