Colva police intervene as prize pots grow exponentially
MARGAO
The Housie game, which has created a big buzz with organisers offering unprecedented prize money running into lakhs of rupees around the Salcete countryside and beyond, has finally come under the lens of the men in uniform.
On Wednesday, the Colva police called an organiser of the game to the police station and sent a message to stop the proposed Housie scheduled in the police station’s jurisdiction later this week.
Questions, however, are being raised in certain quarters regarding the basis on which the Colva police have told the organisers not to go ahead with the Housie scheduled later this week. Incidentally, inquiries by 'The Goan' have revealed that the police department has not received any communiqué from the government or higher-ups to stop the Housie game in the state.
When 'The Goan' contacted Colva police station in-charge, PI Ritesh Tari, to find out the outcome of the meeting with the Housie organiser on Wednesday morning, the police officer was categorical in saying that the organiser had been told to stop the proposed Housie in his jurisdiction. “I inquired with the organiser whether he had obtained any permission from the government authorities to hold the Housie game, where the prize money offered runs into lakhs of rupees. The organiser had no reply to the question and hence was told to stop the Housie scheduled in the police station’s jurisdiction,” he said.
PI Tari further stated that Housie in its current form, whereby organisers are offering prize money in lakhs of rupees, will not be allowed in the Colva police station’s jurisdiction. “We know that the Housie game was being played at small get-togethers near a place of worship, a sporting event, or a social function. But, what we have seen in the last few days is that Housie has taken a different form altogether, with prize money offered in lakhs of rupees,” he added.
Incidentally, a police officer heading another police station in Salcete informed that the police stations have not received any communiqué or circular from the department to ban Housie. “If the Colva police have told the organisers to stop Housie, they must have done so under a certain provision of law. Right now, the police department has not issued any circular to ban Housie,” the police officer stated.
Several entertainment programmes-cum-Housie games are lined up in Salcete and beyond throughout March and early April, with an organiser taking to social media to announce prize money of Rs 20 lakh.
