But, the rave party scene has been set well alight. If someone were to ask whether there were rave parties happening in Goa, the answers until now could be ambiguous. Not any longer, as there’s evidence now that points to a thriving rave scene in the State.
The busting of a rave party by the Goa Police supports all the whispers and allegations that such parties are definitely happening in the State, and that the lockdown, unlock and restrictions have not stopped them. Even more interesting is the indication that there are foreigners who opted to stay back in Goa through the long lockdown despite there being evacuation flights back to their countries, solely because of the parties. If they aware that the party scene in Goa would not die down despite the several restrictions in place, was there an intelligence failure in the Police Department that allowed the parties to happen?
According to sources in the Police Department, the foreigners who were arrested at the Vagator rave party belong to the party circuit and some would regularly attend parties and even get invited to these. The police believe that this is one reason these foreign nationals decided to stay on in Goa despite their compatriots being evacuated. Can we conclude that in the past almost five months, since the lockdown began on March 22, there have been a number of such parties taking place in the State in secret?
Goa Police has succeeded in busting one such party, but rather than seeing this as a major success, this has to be converted into breakthrough that will bring an end to all rave parties in the State. That this party was held during a time when there are several restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that people from outside the State came especially for the party leads to the inference that such parties have been happening on an almost regular basis. This surely was not a one-off that was organised on the belief that the organisers could get away with it.
After the Arpora party fiasco, where the police were late in intelligence gathering, this Vagator party bust may redeem the department somewhat. To recall, just a little over a week ago, a video had gone viral of an underground party organised by some youth that was meant to be a farewell for a Russian woman. The party had come to light after a brawl that began there, spilled onto the streets and involved local goons, forcing the police to book the organisers. The police came in late here, but if there is to be a crackdown on illegal parties, the intelligence has to be better, for here too there exists the element of a foreigner being involved. So is this a further lead to the theory that the foreigners who stayed back during the lockdown did so for the parties?
Drug-induced parties or plain celebrations, these are happening in the State and the COVID pandemic has not been able to curb them, as seen from recent events. The DGP, who has taken charge of the police force only recently, has warned that the cops would crackdown on late night parties and take action against the offenders. The CM has spoken of zero tolerance to drug trafficking. If the busting of the Vagator rave party is an outcome of all this, it is welcomed but can we see more such action?
