Sawant warns police over lapses in curbing drugs and prostitution

Panaji: After videos surfaced of a woman soliciting at Baga and a foreigner being offered drugs at Candolim, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that action would be taken in such instances.

While backing Goa police’s efforts against drugs and prostitution, the chief minister hinted that officers could face disciplinary action if activities such as drug peddling and prostitution flourished within their jurisdictions.

“The police have been taking strict action. There might be one or two incidents like this and even here, police have 100% taken action,” said Sawant when quizzed by reporters at an event in Panaji.

Sawant’s terse comments came just a few days after GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai shared a video showing tourists negotiating prices with a woman who appeared to be soliciting at Baga.

Sardesai said that Goa is competing with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in crime, and questioned the inaction. He said that Goa police was aware of anti-social activities.

Shack owners' welfare society general secretary John Lobo demanded a crackdown on prostitution activities. The Calangute Congress block committee also met on Wednesday, with block president Lourenco Silveira saying, “People will now come on the road to stop illegal activities.”