BASURI DESAI
PANJIM: Will lady power, and that too in uniform, break rave and trance party power?
The signs seem to be encouraging. Chandana Chowdhary, Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 2010 batch, currently Superintendent of Police of North Goa has cracked down on night music parties. It is learnt that almost 50 percent of the surreptitious, clandestine rave and trance parties at secret hideouts have been spotted and a crackdown ordered with more than a little help from the cyber cell.
The nuisance of loud music, which was unstoppable in the North coastal belt, has been toned down due to the efforts of the lady officer and her presence on the ground.
“It requires dedicated staff and also strong willpower. Government is also very serious of cleaning tourism in Goa,” she said when asked how she managed the crackdown.
She also said that there are a number of complaints received of loud music that disturbs students preparing for the board exams.
“Last Friday I went with my personal staff to Assagao and stopped music being played illegally at 11.30pm. The party was attended almost 150 foreigners and 100 Indian tourists,” Chowdhary said.
She said the music was stopped by Anjuna Police Inspector, equipment was seized and the organisers had been warned not to start the music, but they had started it again by installing other equipment.
“Finally, we had to get the tempo and seize all the sound systems and other related equipment from the site,” she said.
She said there is another waterfront club in Siolim which also fearlessly plays music without any permission disturbing the locality. “We have written to the authority concerned to take action as the establishment itself is not legal,” she said.
“We are trained to handle any kind of situation. Right from our training days there was equality in the service. I never found any difficulty in service being a woman. I have not been discriminated upon being a woman IPS officer,” Chowdhary said.
The frustration of party organisers and famous DJs has been noticed on the social media with use of abusive language against cops and challenging them to stop party and till then they will be playing music.
One of the DJ’s playing at one of these parties posted on Facebook recently, “If the police try to stop another party that I play, they can kiss my ****.”
Another night club on the waterfront posted on its Facebook page “Many other talented acts in the line up. We start at sunset till whatever time the authorities come and stop us.”
According a senior IAS officer, these posts have been spotted by the police and action taken.
Here’s wishing that lady power will triumph over trance power.
