Goa police to step up drive against illegal pubs

Panaji, Dec 6 (PTI) Ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities in Goa, police today said the pubs doubling up as prostitution dens would be under their scanner. Police had on Monday night raided a pub at Calangute and rescued 14 girls, after it was revealed that the place was doubling up as a flesh trade joint. Director General of Police Aditya Arya had personally raided the premises along with sleuths from Crime Branch and India Reserve Battalion. Arya told reporters today that the raids would continue in the coastal belt as and when police receives information about any illegal activity. "The raids would be conducted as and when information is received. I am hundred per cent transparent and any information provided by common man would not be ignored," the DGP said. Calangute raid came at a time when tourists have begun flocking the coastal state in the run up to Christmas and New Year celebration. The village known for famous beach is a tourist hotspot and has several pubs, which are allegedly running till mid-night, at times without proper permission. The pub, which was raided on Monday night, had no permission to serve liquor. The permission obtained from Excise department had expired in March, 2011. Responding to a query, Arya said local police would not be pulled up for ignoring the activities at the pub. "My boys (local police) were overstressed with the security for International Film Festival of India and Feast of St Francis Xavier," he said, adding that whenever any wing gets an information, it is bound to conduct raids. Arya denied that the coastal belt is increasingly becoming a hub of prostitution and drugs. "Whenever we get the input we have raided places. We need cooperation from people," he added. PTI RPS NSK