Calangute MLA and Ports Minister Michael Lobo must be congratulated for holding a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently and rightly raising the issue of harassment of tourists by the traffic police on the pretext of checking documents. Of course, the cops from the traffic cell have every right to stop those not following traffic rules, but, unfortunately, most of the time, they are seen unnecessarily harassing the poor tourists who are found moving around in their own private and rented two/four wheelers and demanding money from them under some pretext or the other on all the roads in Goa. Forget tourists, these same cops are seen hiding in groups on interior village roads and extorting money even from locals despite they wearing helmets. It appears the cops have been instructed to collect funds for the upcoming assembly elections in Goa.
Our respective governments have been continuously recruiting thousands in the police force to strengthen law and order. Unfortunately, most of these recruits instead of going after criminals have been seen unnecessarily roaming around in departmental vehicles in the name of patrolling and extorting money from young couples, collecting their regular haftas or bribes.
