Cops crack down on beggars in Calangute

Calangute: A large number of beggars and hawkers have been rounded up by a special squad formed by the Calangute police and local citizens from Calangute.
Following a resolution at a gram sabha held on April 3, a committee of citizens had been formed. The committee had then written to the Calangute police station in-charge, the deputy collector's office and other authorities to crack down on the beggars in the coastal tourism hub as "their presence was "ruining the image of Calangute as a global tourist destination".
Following this, a special squad had been formed to tackle the beggars with the assistance of NGO 'Care for India'.Calangute ZP member Shawn Martins said a 'neighbourhood watch', comprising local citizens from different areas of Calangute to monitor the situation in their own areas, has also been formed.
"We had a meeting with the superintendent of police (North) Umesh Gaonkar recently, and Calangute police inspector Tushar Vernekar after which we formed these 'neighbourhood watch' bodies. The police also agreed to form a special squad to deal with the problem with around 15-20 constables, including three lady constables. We've also been given a bus to transport the beggars to the police station," Martins said.
Every day the 'neighbourhood watch' members identify the beggars and hawkers and immediately inform the special squad which then sends constables in plain clothes to the spot to arrest the beggars. This is being done as the beggars and hawkers tend to run away when they see police personnel in uniform.
Members of 'Care for India' are also called to be present at the time of the arrests. Geeta Ghadi of the NGO says they are present to ensure that the proper legal process is followed. The 14-year-old NGO's motto is "Transform citizens, transform the nation". The NGO has been working with drug addicts, alcoholics, abused women, street children and others to "enable them to lead better lives".
Calangute police said they have arrested 18 hawkers and nine beggars in the first week. The drive will continue, Martins said. 'Neighborhood watch Calangute' is not just about assisting the police to clean up our village of unscrupulous elements like pimps, touts, hawkers, organized chain of beggars and prostitutes, but also about educating the public by organizing awareness drives and distribution of pamphlets. We have been quite successful these past few days and the Goa police and the people of Calangute have given us full support in this endeavour," Benedict Lobo of 'Neighborhood watch Calangute' said.