PANJIM: From soliciting on the streets, to moving to websites on the net, and now jumping on to the social media, the prostitution racket, particularly in the coastal belt, is evolving to the changing scenario. Twitter users are now being approached by agencies providing ‘escort services’ in Goa, by handles with suggestive names.
Herald came across this shocking trend of escort services engaging twitter users to solicit customers, through tweets that are ridden with obscene language and pictures of girls. There are also tweets that allegedly speak about body massage, leading to an embarrassment to the State that is working at shedding its tainted image in the illicit racket.
Here are some of the twitter handles: Goa Russian Escorts with twitter handle @GoaRussian, Goa Female Escorts (@GoaFemale), North Goa Escorts (@NorthGoaEscorts), South Goa Escorts (@SgoaescortsGoa), Calangute Goa Escort (@CalanguteE), etc. These are just a few of such twitter accounts and most of the tweets are supported by photos of girls, and offering escort services.
The tweets have been getting bulk retweets and likes, and also many followers… One of these tweets @BogmaloSouthGoa states, “Creatures of the night – (name of the girl) is available for incall and
outcall all over South Goa and she provides the best GFE.”
“If you are a single guy looking for some extraordinary company, she will turn your night into an amazing and unforgettable one. (Name of the girl) is worth every dime. Whether you book her for a short-duration or an entire night, she will provide you a matchless service,” reads an extract from a blog escortsincalangute.blogspot.in/2017/05/posted on @CalanguteE (Calangute Goa Escort).
Most of these tweets disclose the places from where they are allegedly providing the illicit services while many others disclose the states and nationalities of the girls. For instance, @PanajiEscorts offer ‘High Class independent North Indian escort girl (name of the girl) for inbound services at a Dona Paula hotel. Outdoor services…. Supernatural GFE Escorts from Bangalore in Panjim…’ Another post by the same account holder states, ‘They call our Panaji escort service agency heaven. We have only VIP ladies with us. Booking is extremely safe & easy.’
A tweet, posted two days ago by @NorthGoaEscorts speaks of a woman living in Goa without travel documents. “(1/2)One of our Bardez escorts was born and raised in Tanzania but when came to Goa, she lost her passport, her visa and she had to” the post ends with a three-part continuation that reads, “stay in here for weeks and to make a living she contacted us and after looking at her personality, her stunning body and pretty face, we instantly decided to recruit her. After only working with us for a week, she decided to settle here forever and she has been living here and working with us ever since. She welcomes you with open arms and something else. She is always more than happy to meet you.”
The posts have drawn condemnation from Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo and Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG). “Their main source, origin, etc needs to be found out. The police needs to crackdown on the illegal activities. It seems to be a big racket,” Lobo, also Calangute MLA said. He is expected to meet Crime Branch officials in this regard.
TTAG President Savio Messias has also called for a quick crackdown on the tweets stating, “It’s wrong to misuse any system to promote and flourish illegal trade. Government and police need to clampdown on this. People should not take undue advantage to tarnish Goa’s image,” he said.
Finding the authenticity of the tweets, their origin and the identity of the account holders is with the law enforcement agencies.
Director General of Police Dr Muktesh Chander, under whom the police department has cracked down on many online prostitution rackets said, “Cracking down on prostitution racket, operating through any medium, is a continuous process. We will not tolerate such illicit activities in Goa.”
Herald contacted Twitter via mail, but no reply has yet been received.
