Team Herald
CALANGUTE: The Calangute police registered 29 cases against touts and pimps harassing tourists in the last 10 days as part of its drive against elements who target innocent tourists in the area. Each of the offenders has been fined Rs 5,000, police said on Saturday.
“This drive is part of a larger initiative to cleanse Calangute and its surrounding areas of such nuisance activities, so that tourists visiting Goa are able to enjoy their holidays without any inconvenience, and in line with our wider campaign to curb rowdy elements and unlawful activities, ensuring a safer and more pleasant environment for all,” police said.
“The north Goa police team is working tirelessly day and night to ensure the safety and security of tourists and locals alike, freeing the area from such unscrupulous elements,” police said.
However sources in the police on condition of anonymity said that there are more touts, pimps and peddlers than the grains of sand on the beach - mostly migrants but politically connected and hence it is difficult to initiate action against them. “They have settled here and have voting and Aadhar cards issued by the government and thus continue to flex their muscles against law enforcing agencies due to their political clout,” said another cop.
“We penalise them as per the law but once they are out they are back to square one,” said a senior cop on condition of anonymity and added that they are all into illegalities and if the government is serious in bringing the nuisance to an end then the Enforcement Directorate should be entrusted with the job to unravel the source of their colossal wealth.