Police on motorbikes to keep hawk’s eye along beaches

PANAJI: Goa police may soon be seen patrolling the state’s 105km-long coastline on modified motorcycles. Police have written to the collectors seeking permission to ride modified motorcycles on the beaches to keep a watch on anti-social elements.
The North and South Goa superintendent of police (SP) have written to the respective collectors for permission to run six modified two-wheelers on the beaches in both the districts. Police feel that patrolling on the beaches will help reduce crimes against women and other related-crimes on the beaches.

The earlier collector had allowed Drishti to run motorcycles on the beaches and we have sought a similar permission, North Goa SP Chandan Choudhary told TOI. She said patrolling on the beaches will help them monitor the visitors to the state’s beaches as some anti-social elements also come along with them.

“It has been a some time since we sought permission, but we will send a reminder,” Choudhary said.

Police said the use of motorcycles on beaches will help them check and reach isolated areas, which was not possible earlier.

North Goa collector Nila Mohanan told TOI that the police department’s letter has been forwarded to Goa coastal zone management authority to seek their comment.

Police have also written to the tourism department to illuminate the beaches so that there is more visibility.

On May 26, three Indore-based men were arrested for gangraping a 20-year-old woman at Betalbatim beach. The trio gangraped the woman, filmed the act and demanded money in exchange for not making the clip public. On the same day, a 22-year-old chef from Kuwait and native of Kolhapur, Joseph Das, was arrested for molesting a 17-year-old German girl at Ourem beach in Canacona.

On May 30, nine tourists from Pune were arrested for allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of a minor girl at Calangue beach. The nine also assaulted the girl’s minor brother and created a ruckus before they were arrested.