Policing gaps exposed with the booking of six persons
MARGAO
Natives of Bihar working as guides and touts at the world-famous Colva beach may leave Goans shocked and surprised.
Indeed, strange as it may seem, but true, a group of persons, all natives of Bihar, were booked by the Colva police after they were caught red-handed involved in touting and working as guides.
The action initiated by the Colva police has raised another contentious issue – is the tourism police force equipped with the manpower and infrastructure to crack down on illegal guides and touts at the world-famous Colva beach?
Colva police informed that the six persons who were booked for illegal touting were found acting as guides to visitors at the beach. “They were found involved in guiding tourists and assisting in arranging hotels and transport from Colva beach,” sources said.
Sources at the Colva police station told 'The Goan' that touting and migrant hawkers have seen a big rise at Colva beach in recent days. “The Colva police cannot maintain patrolling on the beach all the time since they are involved in law and order duties. The Tourist Police should be made to closely monitor the illegal activities of migrant hawkers and touting,” sources informed.
Sources further stated that though the Tourist Police has deployed some personnel at Colva, they should be made to function effectively by their superiors, who are stationed at the Calangute-Baga beach belt.
