Preventive arrests made after incident amplified on social media
MAPUSA
What began as a minor roadside altercation involving a group of tourists and a police constable in Mapusa was blown out of proportion after videos of the incident went viral on social media, eventually leading to the preventive arrest of five tourists late Monday.
The incident occurred late Monday morning near the Maruti temple, one of the busiest junctions in the heart of Mapusa.
According to police sources, the tourists were travelling in a car that nearly rammed into a private vehicle ahead of them, driven by a police constable, after the latter applied sudden brakes due to oncoming traffic.
The near-collision led to a brief confrontation. Police said the tourists stepped out of their vehicle, exchanged heated words with the constable and allegedly behaved in an unruly manner.
Unverified claims of the constable being slapped surfaced on social media soon after, triggering public outrage and attracting a crowd at the spot, resulting in temporary commotion.
However, senior police officials maintained that the incident was trivial in nature. “It was a very small issue that escalated only because videos were circulated online,” a senior officer said, adding that the constable involved had refused to file any formal complaint.
“The cop did not want to pursue the matter at all. There was no serious injury or damage. Preventive arrests were made only after the video went viral and the issue was sensationalised on media platforms,” the officer said.
The tourists were arrested under preventive provisions to maintain law and order, police clarified, stressing that the action was not based on a substantive criminal complaint.
The episode has once again highlighted how minor incidents are often amplified through selective clips and commentary on social media, forcing authorities to act under public pressure even when parties involved are willing to settle matters amicably.
At the same time, police acknowledged that the conduct of some domestic tourists has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly in coastal areas. Incidents involving harassment of female foreign tourists by Indian visitors have been reported, with several cases believed to have gone unreported.
While police have taken action in such cases, officers admit that the recurring complaints point to a worrying trend. “The behaviour displayed by the tourists in Mapusa over a minor traffic issue also reflects a larger problem of intolerance and aggression,” a police official observed.
Authorities reiterated that while maintaining public order remains a priority, responsible behaviour by tourists and restraint in amplifying unverified incidents on social media are equally crucial to prevent unnecessary escalation.
