the goan I network
MARGAO
In the wake of last week’s gang-rape at the Sunset beach and the previous murder reported at the adjoining Lovers beach, Betalbatim villagers on Thursday have called for urgent measures along the secluded beach belt, including illumination, erection of warning boards and gates, CCTV surveillance cameras et al to keep criminals at bay and ensure the safety of visitors.
The rape victim came in for praise from the village sarpanch, who said women should take a cue from the victim to tackle cases of sexual assaults with a firm hand. Speakers, including local MLA Wilfred D’Souza demanding hanging of the three rapists till death, even as they complimented the police for the quick detection of the case.
A banner displayed at the meeting said the rapist has political support from the MP government and their motive is to take the case to MP, adding ‘we Goans demand for the trial to be held in Goa and justice to be given to the victim in Goa itself’.
The burning issue of migrants also came to the fore at the public meeting held in the village on Thursday, with speakers giving a call to the landlords to maintain a close vigil on the tenants staying in their tenements.
The meeting called by the Betalbatim village panchayat was attended by the villagers to put in place an ‘action plan’ to avoid the ugly incidents reported at the Sunset beach and the Lovers beach in the future. A detailed memorandum containing the issues discussed at Thursday’s meeting will be submitted to the district Collector, South and the district police, seeking action on a whole lot of issues, including the demand for additional manpower to man the secluded beach belt.
Village Sarpanch Constancio Miranda said the panchayat will write to the authorities to sanction additional manpower to the Colva police or the Tourism police to intensify beach patrolling. “Illumination of the secluded beach spots, Sunset and Lovers beaches, will be taken up by the GSIDC with the initiative of the MLA. There’s an urgent need to erect warning boards, cautioning visitors to leave the secluded beaches after a specified time,” he said. The sarpanch has also mooted erection of gates on the road leading to the two secluded beaches as precautionary measure.
Taking cognizance of a suggestion made by a villager Menino Cota to trim the thick growth of bushes and vegetation under the tree cover, Sarpanch Miranda said the panchayat will seek the NOC from the Forest department to rid the bushes.
On the presence of migrants in the village, the sarpanch put the onus of responsibility on the owners and landlords to look after their tenants. “The owners enjoy the rent, but they have a responsibility towards the migrant tenants. They should ensure the tenants are inside their tenanted rooms by 7.30 pm,” the sarpanch added.
In his brief address, MLA Wilfred said the gang-rape does not augur well for a tourist place such as Goa, which is considered a safe tourist destination. The MLA said he would petition to the SP, South and district Collector to beef up the manpower requirements of Colva police to provide a security cover for the visitors.
Wilfred announced that the GTDC has sanctioned illumination along the Betalbatim beach belt, saying the beach belt will be illuminated soon.
Boney Pereira said the two secluded beaches had been in the news in the past for criminal activities, while calling for immediate measures to provide safety for the visitors.
Zilla panchayat member Nelly, Menino Cota and others also addressed the meeting.
Goa Police to petition Tourism dept
for illumination, CCTVs on beaches
MARGAO: Post-Betalbatim rape incident, the Goa police would petition to the Tourism department to initiate steps to cover the beach belt with illumination and CCTV surveillance cameras, pointing out that police patrol all along the beach belt 24x7 is technically not feasible.
The Superintendent of Police, South, Arvind Gawas told The Goan that the Betalbatim rape incident is an eye opener to the tourism stakeholders to put in place a host of measures that would help keep miscreants and criminals from the beaches at bay. “I will write a letter to the Tourism department and the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to initiate suitable steps to get the beach belt illuminated and under the surveillance of the Big Brother,” SP Gawas said.
He pointed out that the Goa police would certainly look into the demands of people to beef up police manpower at the Colva police station to man Salcete beach belt. He, however, hastened to add that beefing up security will in itself not solve the problem as it will not be possible for the deployment of police all along the beach belt. “Awareness amongst the visitors coupled by the measures initiated by the local bodies and the tourism stakeholders will go a long way in helping the police to curb crime on the beaches,” he said.
He appreciated the decision taken by the Betalbatim village panchayat to install warning boards at the entrance to the two secluded beach spots, the Sunset beach and the Lovers beach, besides erection of gates on the road leading to the beach belt.
