Goemkarponn desk
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo today said there should be a strict and tough law for taking action against the illegal touts and hawkers.
“There should be a proper amendment, and I will speak to the chief minister and the Adv General on how to implement the law; other, the touts will be arrested in the morning and left free by evening. Where is the action,” stated Lobo.
The MLA defended the police, though, saying they cannot simply blame the police for this.
“The short-staffed Police are doing their job; they have so many things to handle. We cannot just blame the police and wash our hands. It has to be a collective effort to eradicate the menace,” he suggested.
He further explained that syndicates of touts and pimps are operating along the coastal belt and targeting visitors, thus tarnishing the image of the state.
He , however, added that police should keep a strict watch on touts who are promoting illegal businesses and arrest them immediately.
“Panchayat, PI, and the like-minded people should keep a watch on the touts and control them as to what business they are promoting as some touts are promoting illegal business,” said Lobo.
Lobo said that the number of touts and pimps was rising, while the sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said no action has been forthcoming from the law enforcement authorities.
He further said that the police should arrest them and keep them in the local up for 24 hours, take an undertaking from them, and be produced them before the deputy collector.
Lobo admitted that touting misguiding and cheating tourists is giving the coastal belt a bad name, and though police have been taking action by fining them, more needs to be done.
“There are some touts who are looting tourists. They will approach tourists and tell them that they will take them to so-and-so club where women are available, but when they reach there, there is nothing inside,” he acknowledged.
Citizens say that the nefarious activities are carried on under the very nose of the authorities as these elements give a dam to the law,
They stated that though police round up many of the touts, they are only fined and allowed to go and added that the law should be made more stringent so that touts do not continue with their activities.
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