It would seem that Goa’s beaches are ceasing to be a safe haven for the multitudes that visit them each year. Yet another horrific incident occurred on a beach this past Tuesday evening. This time, the state’s famous Calangute beach in North Goa was the scene of the crime. Right on the heels of last week’s gangrape case on South Goa’s Betalbatim beach, this time, a group of Pune tourists are believed to have interfered with a minor girl and even assaulted her brother (also a minor) for coming to her rescue.
Pune tourists held responsible in this incident
Both the culprits as well the victims are tourists. However, the fact that it has happened in Goa, known to be a tourist hotspot, could mean more bad news for the state in terms of tourism.
The police arrested these Pune tourists for allegedly outraging the girl’s modesty, assaulting her brother and rioting.
On Tuesday, at approximately 5:30 pm, Police inspector (PI) Jivba Dalvi said that that Calangute police received a complaint that a group of boys was taking pictures of a minor girl, without her consent. When her brother, also a minor, tried to intervene, they assaulted him, Dalvi said. Then, when shack owners tried to intervene, the tourists created a ruckus and fled the scene.
According to the police report, the victims’ family were visiting Calangute beach on Tuesday evening. While the children were walking on the beach, the parents sat in a shack nearby. The girl is believed to be 16 years old. The group of Pune tourists allegedly started clicking pictures of her when she did not consent to the same, thus outraging her modesty.
The complaint further states when the victim’s brother questioned the group on their misbehavior with his sister, they started assaulting him.
On receiving the complaint, the Calangute police was quick to act and arrested the group of Pune tourists. A case has been registered against them under Sections 143, 147, 323, 354 R/w 149 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act.
The investigation continues
The police took down statements from the victims in the presence of an NGO. They have confiscated the camera phone that was used to take the alleged photographs of the 16-year-old girl. It will be sent to the forensic laboratory for further analysis.
Two of the accused are minors themselves and have been placed in Apna Ghar. The remaining have been remanded to police custody.
Police sub-inspector Mahesh Naik is investigating the case under the supervision of police inspector Jivba Dalvi.
Also, read – Not a first-time offense for the Betalbatim rape accused
Information credit – The Navhind Times and TOI
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