MARGAO
Ice-cream vendors doing brisk business at the iconic Colva beach were in demand on Tuesday, but for a different reason.
Challans issued by the men-in-uniform for violating the norms on wearing face masks, have to be paid in cash. But, tourists who wanted to clear the fines via Google Pay had no option at Colva beach than to turn to the ice-cream vendors to pay the fines.
While the Colva police continued its drive against visitors to the Colva beach by issuing challans to 62 more tourists on Tuesday, those unable to pay cash, but want to clear the fine through Google Pay were left with no option than to pay the amount with the help of the ice-cream vendors.
Strange it may seem, but true that the ice cream vendors doing brisk business at the entrance to the Colva beach came to rescue of both the police and the tourists on Tuesday.
Many a tourist, who were hauled up for violating the face mask norm, were taken by surprise when the men-in-uniform insisted on cash payment expressing their inability to accept the fine amount via Google Pay.
To tide over the situation, the policemen and the violators sought the help of the ice cream vendors, who offered to lend a helping hand to break the impasse. While the erring visitors paid the fine amount to the ice cream vendors via Google Pay, the vendors in turn handed over the amount to the men-in-uniform, after completing the cash transaction.
Senior police officials in the know told The Goan that the policemen issuing challans for not wearing the face masks has to only accept cash, adding that the help of the ice cream vendors might have been sought by the police as well as by the tourists to make the payment.
Meanwhile, Colva police station in-charge, PI Melson Colaco informed that the Colva police on Tuesday booked another 62 persons, mostly tourists, who descended at the beach without wearing the mandatory face masks.
In fact, police teams were stationed right at the entrance to the world famous Colva beach to reign in on the visitors without the mandatory face masks. While the police action prompted many a tourist to remove their masks from their pockets and cover their face, there were many others who were hauled up with the challans.
