The recent startling revelation of a prostitution racket underway at the SGPDA market sent shockwaves across Margao with people unable to believe that the market complex they visit everyday is also a hub for flesh trade.
This has spurred calls for better monitoring of such activity and for police and the government to ensure that these sex rackets operating from Margao are nipped in the bud and for proper rehabilitation facilities for the rescued women and better infrastructure at Margao Police station.
“We are in the process of conducting more raids based on the information received from various intelligence sources. We are analysing the information to move ahead and the men, women and children involved in the trafficking have been and will be brought to the book,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dinraj Govenkar speaking to Herald.
“These activities are going on mostly on the beach side. However, the police are looking into other areas like in the town of Margao. We have some information as the raids conducted in Margao have revealed a possibility of women being brought through the town and kept on the beach side,” he added.
When asked whether the Police stations on the coastal belt are strong enough to curb the menace, he said, “We have sufficient staff in Colva and the coast side police stations and the situation is fully under control. We are booking cases. Problems arise after raids when the traders disappear for a while and then come back. We are keeping an eye on that and booking cases,” the DYSP added.
A few NGOs that have been coordinating with the police for the raids have called for better facilities and counselling for the rescued women and also for stricter action wherein the accused are not let off on bail easily. ‘Bailanche Ekvott’ convenor, Auda Viegas said that she had raised issues with consecutive governments of notifying the Woman Police station (WPS) and Anti-Human Traffic Unit of Margao as a fully fledged and functional police station like the ones in Panjim with powers. They further called for the shifting of women police stations to the old collectorate building as she stressed that women police stations lack infrastructure and above all, allocation of power and duties related to their work as women police.
She demanded that that the WPS have powers to ensure professional, scientific and meticulous investigation and sensitive and successful prosecution of cases. She further called for the WPS to be empowered to monitor the implementation of Central and State Acts constituted for the upliftment of women and children. She further demanded that the anti-human trafficking cell of the district could keep watch on trafficking activities and coordinate with the local police station in coordination with women NGOS in carrying out of rescues and raids. She also alleged that politicians in power were linked to the flourishing of prostitution in Goa. She questioned why the government did not have the willpower to tackle this menace and dance bars the way the Maharashtra government had managed.
