Team Goemkarponn
Calangute/ Panaji: Viral videos allegedly depicting illegal activities in the Calangute–Baga tourist belt have prompted police to intensify enforcement, leading to a fresh crackdown on touting and related offences across one of Goa’s busiest coastal stretches.
Acting swiftly, teams from Calangute Police, led by PI Laxi Amonkar, have stepped up patrolling and launched sustained anti-touting drives in key hotspots, including the Calangute beach promenade, Baga, and the Tito’s Lane area.
Police said the operations target individuals involved in illegal solicitation, unauthorised tourist guiding, and violations under the Tourist Trade (Prevention of Unlawful Activities) Act.
Officials confirmed that the drives are being conducted daily, particularly during peak evening hours, with support from beat staff and special squads. Based on ground inputs, around four to eight individuals are being detained each day and fined ₹5,000 before being released under relevant provisions.
Authorities said that over the past three months, approximately 170 persons have been booked or penalised as part of the ongoing enforcement effort.
Police clarified that the intensified action is not merely a response to viral content but part of a continued strategy to maintain law and order in the tourism hub. They have also urged tourists and locals to report suspicious activities, assuring prompt action.
However, sections of the tourism industry have expressed concern, noting that such illegal activities continue to resurface despite repeated crackdowns. Stakeholders have called for more sustained and long-term enforcement measures rather than periodic drives.
Police, meanwhile, have reiterated that surveillance and patrolling will remain heightened across the Calangute–Baga belt to ensure tourist safety and uphold Goa’s image as a secure destination.
