Traffic cops harass tourists, say MLAs; police promise solution | Goa News
Panaji: After BJP MLAs from the coastal belt raised concerns about the ‘harassment’ of tourists by the traffic police, the state’s police force assured them that a new mechanism would be put in place to ensure that a tourist who has already been stopped in one area to check for traffic violations would not be intercepted elsewhere again.
MLAs highlighted that tourists are being stopped at every nook and corner of the state by traffic police, which sends a wrong message to others seeking to holiday in Goa.Emphasising that such actions by the traffic police are detrimental to the tourism industry and could discourage visitors from travelling to the state, they urged the director general of police (DGP), Alok Kumar, to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure that tourists are treated with respect and fairness.
“Tourists are spreading the message in their respective states that if they go to Goa, police harass them. We have raised this issue in the assembly. We have met the DGP and explained it to him. The DGP has assured us that the issue will be sorted out as soon as possible,” said Saligao MLA Kedar Naik. He also said that a wireless message will be sent to every police station advising cops not to harass the tourists.
Naik said Goa police assured the MLAs that tourists would be stopped only to check for visible traffic violations.
“If there is a visible violation, stop tourists. But currently, all tourists are being stopped. They cannot go back (to their states) with bad memories. If they travel in the coastal belt, they are stopped six times and if they go to the Ponda side, they are stopped nine times,” said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. He also said that private scooters and motorcycles being given out on rent illegally should be stopped completely.
Accidents are increasing in Goa and many young people are victims, Lobo said while cautioning parents to not allow their children to ride two-wheelers without a helmet. He pointed out that 300 people losing their lives to road accidents each year is not a small number.
