‘Hotel manager could have averted assault on tourists’

CM says cops found to have acted lethargically will be suspended

Panaji: In view of the brutal assault on tourists at Anjuna, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a review meeting with officials from the police, tourism and labour departments with an idea to prevent such incidents from occurring in future. Sawant said that those (police personnel) responsible for the lethargic action in connection with the crime will be placed under suspension.

After video of the incident went viral on social media, police had added IPC section 307 – attempt to murder in the case and arrested the accused persons.

“People including the tourists visiting the state should not take law into their hands and they should inform the police,” said Sawant at the press conference after the meeting at the police headquarters in the city on Monday.

Sawant said that the incident could have been averted, if the hotel (where the tourists were staying) manager had intervened or alerted the police when the tourist and one of the accused (waiter) had altercation over some petty issue.

“Sometimes tourists are also at fault and it has come to light that initially the tourist had thrown a stone towards one of the accused. However, the incident would have not escalated to such a level if the hotel manager had called the police,” said Sawant expressing his regret over the incident.

Sawant, referring to another incident at Old Goa, said that the police are on the lookout for the tourist couple who misbehaved with security guards at the gate of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa over the issue of visiting timings. He said that the tourist visiting the state should follow the rules. Sawant said that incidents of people taking law into their hands will not be tolerated.

Referring to the tourist hotels, Sawant said that earlier 1,200 tourist hotels were registered but now with efforts from the tourism department around 6,000 hotels have registered with tourism department.

“That means for so long they were running illegal businesses,” said Sawant adding, “We have sensitised them to register and legalise the businesses. My request as well as instruction to all those involved in the tourist hotel business is that they should also register with the labour department. Soon the department will start online process for the same,” said Sawant.

Regarding playing of music at night, Sawant said that music stops at 10 p.m. however especially during 10th and 12th standard board exams, there has to be control over loud music and it has to stop by 10 p.m.

Responding to a query pertaining to the Calangute MLA Michael Lobo’s claim that someone had came to his hotel and tried to extort money, he said, “Lobo should have given a complaint to the DGP or informed me. We will arrest the person. Give complaint with the names.”