TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: An unidentified person was reportedly beaten up by locals for trying to extort money for playing music in commercial establishments at Calangute.
According to reports, the locals involved in tourism-related business were surprised with the visit of an unknown person forcing them into making a payment running in thousands of rupees for playing music in their premises.
The person posing as ‘marketing executive’ demanded immediate payments either in cash or cheque for all types of music played either in restaurants or other establishments. He also threatened to take the hoteliers, shack owners and others involved in tourism trade to court if his demand was not met.
The local business community members were a little suspicious about the person as he agreed to negotiate a price of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10,000 after discussions.
“We have been playing music in our shacks for years together but of late many music companies have started collecting fees and that too in thousands of rupees. There are 4-5 music companies which visit the commercial premises and demand money,” said a local shack owner.
“We have questioned them many times, as to why there are 4-5 music companies collecting money or fee for the same purpose, but they don’t have any answer. If they were genuine people collecting legal money or fees, then they would have decided and collected the money as sole music company,” added the shack owner.
When contacted, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said, “I had raised the matter in the Assembly to look into authenticity of the companies collecting money or fees in the name of music.”
“The State government needs to verify facts and come to a conclusion over the confusion which is badly affecting those in the tourism trade. Hotels, shacks and restaurants are being charged exorbitant rates by IPRS, PPL and others even to view TV channels, etc,” said Lobo.
“The chief minister had assured to look into the authenticity of the music companies like the IPRS and PPL demanding money for playing music. I have also given a representation to the Director General of Police for thorough probe in the collection of money for music,” he added.
