FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
This time, it was at the gram sabha of Calangute village panchayat where villagers raised the issue of increasing illegal activities in the villages, especially the presence of pimps and touts. It didn’t end there, but it was alleged that not only do these pimps and touts move around freely in the village and on the beach but that just before there can be a raid, they disappear and reappear when the police leave the scene, leading to the belief that there is an active nexus here involving the local police and those involved in illegal activities. The villagers rue that complaints to the police, with photographic evidence of the touts plying their illegal trade, has not yielded results. Villagers further alleged that prostitution has turned rampant and touts can be seen distributing pamphlets promoting spas and massage parlours which run prostitution rackets.
Interestingly, it is not just the villagers who have raised the issue who complain of inaction by the police. In response to the complaints of the villagers, the sarpanch of the village pleaded helplessness stating that the police do not cooperate with the panchayat. If the villagers are aware of this and have complained and so has the local body, why aren’t the police acting? When the law enforcers refuse to act, it does lend credence to the allegations of the people that there is an understanding between the police and those involved in illegalities. The only way this can be dispelled is by the police acting sternly. Will they do it and clear their own name?
With the law enforcement agencies displaying complete unconcern in putting an end to the illegal activities in Calangute, the villagers have demanded that the panchayat form a vigilance committee that will have the powers to round up the touts, and also hold an inspection to identify the illegal spas and massage parlours operating in the village. While the latter may be possible, a vigilance committee, if at all it is ever formed, would be a unique feature in the State, as no village has anything like this. It may not have powers to arrest those committing illegalities, but if the police do not act, what else can the villagers and the panchayat do? A proposal for such a village committee is a telling comment on the working of the police force in the State and shows up the latter for its incompetence.
The villagers of Calangute may have decided to fight back the tourism related illegalities occurring in the village. What about the many other villages that are facing similar issues and the unconcern from the police? The neighbouring villages of Candolim and Anjuna would have comparable problems, and so too coastal villages further up north or down south. Will village vigilance committees be the answer to a police force that is hesitant to act against illegalities?
Ironically, just a day after this was debated in the Calangute gram sabha, news broke that the Calangute police have recommended that legislation be enacted permitting dance bars, as within the jurisdiction of the police station there are many bars and restaurants that employ women and such a law will protect them. The proposal is an indication that the police are aware that not everything is above board in the Bardez coastal belt, but is anyone keeping track? The easy way is making it legal rather than acting against what is illegal. So the option is to legislate and abdicate responsibility. Calangute villagers should show the way by becoming proactive and cleansing their village of all the illegalities. That is the only option there is at the current time.
