Cops step up vigil on popular beaches

A large group of police officers set out on a surprise patrol along Goa’s vast coastline on Friday evening. The force was deployed on popular beaches, churches and temples in the North and South districts, where they checked for suspicious activities. The objective was to make the people of Goa as well as tourists feel safe, especially in the aftermath of the terror attack in Sri Lanka. North Goa SP Chandan Choudhary led a group of 40 officers during the massive patrolling drive along the Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch. “This was to check for suspicious activities on the beaches. We checked anyone who looked suspicious. The drive will continue,” she told us. Though beach patrolling is a regular feature in Goa’s security strategy, these surprise mass patrolling drives will help keep anti-social elements away. “After Sri Lanka, we have beefed up security in the entire state. But in North Goa, where tourist footfall is very heavy, we have enhanced security along the coastline. We are continuing with bike patrolling on beaches,” she added.On Friday evening, 40 officers started from Baga and continued till Calangute, while the force stationed at Calangute continued till Candolim. A third group moved in the opposite direction from Candolim.“There was also patrolling in the Anjuna-Vagator stretch and the Arambol-Morjim stretch. This won’t be part of a routine, but local police will carry out this surprise activity every few days,” the SP told us.In South Goa, SP Arvind Gawas led his team to patrol religious places and other spots that get big footfall. “We have increased security in major churches like those of Navelim, Nuvem and Margao and temples like Mangeshi and Zambaulim. We also have mass patrols on beaches with the most footfall, like Colva, Benaulim and Palolem,” he told us. In the North, there is increased police presence at the churches of Old Goa and Siolim. “We are also meeting the priests and sensitising them. We have already done a meeting with the hotel owners, to enhance vigilance on their premises and to check the positioning of CCTV cameras and install additional ones so that the periphery can also be covered.,” said Chandan.Not all shack are happy with this, since they feel the patrolling may drive away tourists. “Some 100 policemen marching on the beach isn’t the best way to monitor suspicious activities. The anti-social elements will immediately be alerted. The move might actually have a negative impact on tourists at a time when Goa is already receiving fewer tourists due to election code of conduct and stringent curfew hours regulating loud music and party hours,” a shack owner from Baga told us.