Colvale police have reportedly arrested a 56-year-old man from Madel Tivim on charges of sexually assaulting a minor boy. The accused allegedly targeted several minor children. The paedophile allegedly lured children from underprivileged families with eatables and gifts and sexually abused them. Be that as it may, Goa’s tryst with paedophilia made headlines in the 90s, with the arrest and conviction of the late Freddy Peats who managed a charity home in Colva. But far from exiting the state, this nefarious reality is still being carried out and the abusers are no longer just foreigners. A needle of suspicion is now also on male domestic tourists travelling alone. According to NGOs, young boys, working in shacks and spas, are targets of sexual abuse by local tourists. It is learnt that many boys below the age of 18 are brought to Goa on the pretext of giving jobs, but are trafficked instead. There are various ways in which the sex offenders get access to children. Some approach the children directly on the beach, while others offer them a drink or a meal before taking them back to their hotel rooms. Many contact children through their social media platforms. Strict law enforcement and surveillance at the beaches, hotels and railway stations is necessary to protect children from these paedophiles. Parental supervision and monitoring online activities is also needed to keep children safe.
