TEAM HERALD

PANJIM: Under sustained pressure from the Calangute MLA and the people, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar instructed the Calangute police to crackdown on illegal non-Goan touts who double up as pimps and provide prostitution services to tourists along the coastal belt.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who has been persistently vocal about the menace, told Herald that Parrikar has assured all help, after a delegation of over 100 Calangute residents, a majority of who were women, had called upon the chief minister to seek strict action against the illegal and immoral activities in the tourist hub.

Villagers briefed the chief minister about their grievances in a 25-minute meeting at the Secretariat, where Calangute Police Inspector Rajesh Kumar was present.

“These non-Goans are not only illegal touts, they are cheating and harassing the tourists. This is spoiling the name of the tourist place,” Lobo said. “There are many who carry photos of foreign girls promising their male client to supply them for flesh trade. They take advance and cheat them. There are also some who are affiliated with massage parlours which are notorious for prostitution.”

Parrikar, in the ongoing assembly session, assured amendments to Goa Public Health Act next week, which will give more teeth to law enforcement authorities to crack down on massage parlours and spas that are allegedly fronts for prostitution and other nefarious activities.