A 19-year-old Mumbai student’s vaca tion in Goa turned into a nightmare on Sunday af ter she was surrounded, filmed and propositioned by groups of men on Baga beach — an ordeal she captured on video that has since gone viral, spark ing renewed concern over women’s safety in the State. The young woman, a journalism student, said she had travelled to Goa with friends to explore the State’s famed nightlife and music culture. On the evening of the incident, she went alone to Baga beach to watch the sunset — a moment that soon spiralled into harassment. According to her ac count, several men began following her, some insist ing on selfies, others offer ing drinks. What started as casual attention seeking quickly turned aggressive. One man allegedly told her he would ‘pay whatever you want’, before a group closed in, taunting her with lewd remarks such as ‘how much for the night’ while record ing her on their phones. Terrified and cornered, the student began film ing them in return, hoping to deter them. Her video, uploaded later to social media, has since gone vi ral — prompting wide spread condemnation and an official apology from the Goa Police, who have now launched an inves tigation to identify the perpetrators. “I went to Goa to unwind and learn about DJ culture, but I left with fear,” she said, adding that she cut short her trip and returned to Mumbai early. Her experience echoes that of Russian nation al Polina Gerchikova, 39, who told reporters she fac es similar harassment on Goan beaches from male tourists who treat her ‘like a prop for photographs’. She said, some men pre tend to photograph the beach while focusing their cameras on herShe recounted an instance when one man followed her for several minutes before she began recording him to make him stop. The two accounts have revived attention to a pattern of harassment cases on Goan beaches, including a similar ep isode in Arambol earlier this year that led to arrests. Police said both the Baga and Arambol cases are under review and that patrolling has been intensified at busy coastal ar eas. Officers at Calangute police station said they have also launched drives against touts and unauthorised agents who harass tourists near beach entrances. Tourism Director Kedar Naik said the Department takes such incidents seriously and will ensure stronger on ground enforcement. “The safety and security of tourists is of prime importance. We will ensure proper action and ramp up tourist-police patrolling during the season,” he said. A senior government official said that while viral clips can create a “negative perception” of Goa, they do not re flect the behaviour of most Goans or the majority of visi tors. “Nonetheless, every such incident must be dealt with firmly. Safety cannot be compromised,” the official said. Police sources said tourist-police booths at Baga and Calangute are being reactivated for the season, and that visitors can report harassment through helpline number 112. Lifeguard supervisors and shack operators have been asked to alert police immediately when they see groups be having inappropriately with women tourists. Women’s groups have urged that preventive measures continue beyond the immediate outrage cycle, and that awareness drives be launched to remind visitors that pho tographing or filming people without consent is not accept able. “Goa’s beaches are open spaces, but they must also be safe spaces,” one activist said. Local shack owners and tour operators from North Goa said such incidents damage the State’s image and risk driv ing away visitors. “One viral video can undo months of pos itive work,” said a beach shack owner from Calangute. “If we want tourism to grow, safety has to come first.”
Mumbai Student Harassed, Filmed by Groups of Men on Baga Beach; Goa Police Launch Probe
