CALANGUTE: A report published in Herald on Saturday, ‘Here is the Flesh Belt’ caused ripples at the Calangute gram sabha as the locals were unhappy with the locality being tagged as a place where flesh trade is prominent.
The report had highlighted that in the last five years 138 victims were rescued from flesh trade in Calangute.
The locals have moved a proposal to stop issuing licenses to saloons and spa with immediate effect. They have also demanded to revoke all the licenses of existing saloons and spas in and around Calangute.
The villagers were unhappy to see that Calangute as being portrayed in a negatively and at the same time upset with the operation of pimps and prostitutes who were bringing bad image to the village.
The issue was voiced at the meeting by a local Clotilda Braganca who informed the gram sabha that Herald had carried an article on the pick-up points used by pimps operating in Calangute. “The name of the villagers is getting spoilt due to these activities. The previous panchayat body had taken a resolution not to issue any more licenses to spas and saloons but the new body has started issuing licenses. Has the panchayat taken any initiative in regards to this issue,” she questioned.
Replying to this the Sarpanch of Calangute, Shawn Martins said that he was unaware this article. After which the ex-Calangute sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira presented to the sarpanch the Herald newspaper clipping.
Few others also spoke on this issue and demanded some sort of action to be taken as the issues was gaining negative publicity to the village.
