Goan rhapsody continues….

November—the month I took over as the DGP—was the beginning of the holiday season in Goa. Very soon, it would be inundated with tourists of all hues. Surely, some extra police deployment to manage traffic and to put in place elaborate law and order arrangements would be required. I decided to take stock of the situation and discuss the special steps planned for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I was advised by my junior officers to visit the Baga and Calangute areas, the most crowded parts of Goa during the peak holiday season.

During one of my visits to these areas, the local MLA came to see me, which I thought was a gracious gesture on his part. But I was in for a surprise. Soon after pleasantries were exchanged, he went on to give me a taste of the kind of experiences that awaited me in Goa.
He said, ‘Sir, the first thing you need to do is to transfer out the local officer-in-charge of Calangute police station.’

I was taken aback by the abruptness of his demand. I had taken over only a few days earlier and this was our first interaction. I asked him why he wanted the officer to be transferred. The MLA gave an interesting response to my question.

He complained, ‘Sir, your officer is not helping me get the nightclub Cabana closed.’
I then asked him why he wanted the said nightclub to be shut down.
He replied nonchalantly, ‘Sir, I have a stake in its rival nightclub, called Vito’s [name changed]. Ever since Cabana has come up, there has been a steady decline in the footfall at Vito’s.’

I couldn’t believe the audacity of the man. In our very first meeting he had the temerity to make such an outlandish demand, and then give a reprehensible reason for it. I gave him a bemused look and thought to myself that the officer- in-charge would stay where he was and the MLA could take a hike.

To be continued….