SURAJ NANDREKAR

[email protected]

CALANGUTE/ SINQUERIM/ NERUL: Caught in a Catch-22 situation after the recent crackdown on nightclubs, following the death of two tourists in Anjuna due to a drug overdose, the club owners feel there’s need to adopt new strategy to check drugs.

The owners feel the steps taken by the government after the deaths must ensure that such incidents do not repeat. While some feel the government should also conduct tests on club owners and staff, others feel the steps taken by government are adequate.

LPK club owner Nandan Kudchadkar says that the need of the hour is that the clubs lead by example. “The owner, the staff, the security persons should all undergo a test and a certificate has to be issued by the authorities that they are not involved in consuming or selling of banned substances,” Kudchadkar opined. 

He also stated that every club should have frisking facilities to check drugs at entry points itself. However, he continued, “In Nerul there are not much drugs as Porvorim police is doing a good job.”

Ricardo Joseph D’Souza, owner of Tito’s, Mambos nightclub at Baga, feels there needs to be strict checking at the entrance of each and every club with police presence. “There has to be compulsory frisking of every person entering by the police; this will deter abuse of drugs,” he said.

He further stated there has to also be a narco analysis test of club staff, club owners and so also police deployed in coastal areas. Besides this, he says, the nightclub owners can do very little except for keeping vigil. “You never know when a staff, for his greed, gets involved in such activities without the knowledge of owners,” D’Souza stated.

Sahil Advalpalkar, of SinQ club in Sinquerim, feels the government needs to continue its crackdown on drugs. “I don’t think drugs is happening in Calangute, Candolim or Sinquerim it is only restricted to the Vagator-Anjuna belt,” he said.

Nonetheless, Advalpalkar continued, “This is a very serious issue and the government has taken suitable steps and if this continues, drugs can be eradicated.”

When pointed out that staff and club owners should be subjected to narco tests as suggested by other owners, he said, “I don’t know what results it would bring.”

However, Advalpalkar said, “All clubs must compulsorily have frisking machines at the entrance to check for weapons as well drugs on their own as government won’t be able to provide so much security to each and every club.”