Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In the wake of the recent assault on a group of tourists at the Romeo Lane nightclub in Vagator, Goa Police will soon hold consultations with the State’s hospitality sector to establish standard operating procedures for handling difficult or violent patrons, Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar announced on Monday.
The DGP said the police will meet owners and managers of clubs, hotels, shacks, and guest houses before the start of the peak tourist season to reinforce lawful intervention practices. “Security staff can intervene to maintain order, but any excessive response or unlawful action will not be tolerated. Beyond a certain limit, the police must be called in. Taking the law into one’s own hands will invite strict legal consequences,” he said.
The incident at Vagator, where women tourists from Varanasi were among those attacked by club personnel, has sparked public outrage over safety in nightlife establishments.
Referring to another case, DGP Kumar said that a rent-a-car operator from Goa had been arrested for murdering a Uttar Pradesh native who allegedly took a hired vehicle across the border without authorisation. “Giving false information during vehicle rentals or bookings indicates bad intent. Police and transport authorities must coordinate closely to prevent such crimes,” he stated, adding that offenders involved in cross-border thefts can and will be traced.
Highlighting recent enforcement successes, he revealed that a person linked to underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim was recently detained in Goa following a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). “There was some criminal activity that had connections here. We’re now developing better systems to detect such elements early,” he said.
On internal accountability, DGP Kumar said disciplinary action is ongoing against officers involved in misconduct, including those in the Margao custodial assault inquiry. “We’ve already removed several personnel found involved in illegal acts. But we also need to ensure fairness—discipline doesn’t mean punishing everyone indiscriminately,” he noted.
Emphasising morale and motivation, he added that the department regularly honours officers for outstanding service. “Around 50 personnel are recognised every month for exemplary work. Our police work round the clock to keep Goa safe, and their dedication deserves equal recognition alongside the few lapses,” he said.
