Delegation of organisers meets South district police chief, question selective restrictions; district police chief says blanket ban imposed across South Goa
The delegation from Verna led by Franky D’Mello that called on SP, South Tikam Singh and SDPO, Vasco DySP Gurudas Kadam at the South Goa district police headquarters on Sunday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
As the Grande Housie seemed going from strength to strength with each passing day, the men-in-uniform have come under the scanner of housie organisers, but for a different reason.
Organisers in and around Verna have been left to wonder why the police impose a blanket ban on housie in the Vasco police sub-division when the game reigns supreme in the jurisdiction of other police stations in South Goa.
This is precisely the reason why a delegation from Verna called on district Police Chief, South Goa Tikam Singh at the district police headquarters on Sunday, a day after the police had scuttled housie scheduled at Verna on Saturday. Organisers from Verna say this is the second time that police have sabotaged their plan to organise housie at Verna, questioning the rationale behind the decision when housie is organised in a big way across South Goa.
The delegation led by Franky D’Mello called on the Superintendent of Police, South Tikam Singh on Sunday for discussions, which was also attended by Vasco Sub-Divisional Police Officer, DySP Gurudas Kadam.
After the meeting, Franky told the media that the South Goa SP has made it very clear that he has issued strict instructions to the in-charges of all police stations in South Goa to stop housie in their respective jurisdiction. “We had come to inquire with the district police chief why only Verna is singled out by the police when housie is going on unabated in the jurisdiction of other police stations. The SP has replied back saying that he has issued instructions to all police stations to stop housie in South Goa,” Franky said.
He added: “Yesterday, a large number of people had turned up at Verna hoping there would be housie. They left disappointed after the police put their foot down. This is also creating problems for the organisers to refund the ticket money.”
SP: No exceptions for housie even with politicians around
MARGAO: Saying he has issued strict instructions to the in-charges of all police stations in South Goa not to allow housie in the South Goa jurisdiction, Superintendent of Police, South Goa Tikam Singh on Sunday said the police cannot allow the housie just because the organisers invite politicians as guests for functions.
The district police chief, South Goa further said the police have sought legal opinion on the conduct of the housie by organisers.
When The Goan drew attention of the district police chief that VIPs and politicians are invited as guests for the housie programme, the SP said, “The organisers must be inviting politicians as guests for the musical show or entertainment programme. That does not mean that housie is organised with the blessings of the politicians,” he said.
Tikam Singh pointed out that he has issued strict instructions to all the police stations in South Goa to stop the housie.
Housie comes under gambling: DySP
MARGAO: The Grand Housie has failed to get the nod from the Verna police with Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Vasco DySP Gurudas Kadam taking a stand that the housie game falls under gambling.
During the meeting with SP, South and the delegation from Verna, DySP Kadam is believed to have insisted that the Housie comes under the gambling Act and cannot be given police nod.
