CALANGUTE: In a 10-day drive to smoothen traffic flow and movement of tourists on beaches and adjoining areas, Calangute Police arrested over 160 touts and hawkers selling items in public places near the beach.
Calangute Police Inspector Jivba Dalvi said the drive was intensified from December 1 with the help of tourist police in areas where the tourist flow is higher at Calangute. He said that property worth Rs 30,000 has been seized acting upon section 34 of Indian Police Act and handed over to Tourism department. Section 34 of Act empowers police to arrest any person exposing goods for sale in a public place and causing obstruction to public and movement of traffic.
“With this initiative Calangute Police have cleared most obstructions and allowed for free movement of traffic and tourists,” Dalvi said.
Hawkers and touts were unnecessarily harassing tourists, especially foreign tourists, to buy products portraying a wrong image to international tourists, Dalvi said.
He said that a team headed by a Police Sub Inspector has been assigned to keep watch on beach hawkers and touts.
