CALANGUTE: Calangute dance bar owners who have been trying to re-open their establishments have been asked to maintain status quo till May 31, through an order of the deputy collector (North) based on a report by the police that these bars lead to exploitation of women, lower their dignity and cause nuisance.
Deputy Collector Pundalik Khorjuenkar passed the order based on a report by the sub-divisional officer, Porvorim and Calangute police inspector, where the police claimed that the performances in dance bars give rise to exploitation of women, lowering of their dignity and lead to immorality in public places. The officials have identified eight such dance bars which cause nuisance to public life.
Sources reported that the dance bars deploy agents/touts at various places to win over the tourists, while also stating that the mob led by the Calangute MLA had demolished fully or partly, a few bars, forcing closure of dance bars activities in Calangute. Police officials had made a mention that the public are against the re-opening of dance bars and they have been closely monitoring the activities of the dance bar owners who wish to re-start the activities. Police officials also apprehended that the re-opening of the dance bars could lead to law and order problems in Calangute.
Taking serious note of the officials’ report, the deputy collector issued the order to stop re-opening of dance bars in Calangute and ordered the sub divisional police officer, Porvorim and Calangute police inspector to maintain status quo.
The work on re-construction of the demolished dance bars by owners has been sending wrong signals to the villagers and youth of Calangute who are up in arms over dance bars. The Calangute villagers have vowed not to permit dance bars in the village which they say have been lowering the dignity of women.
