Guards, hawkers to double as sleuths

Guards, hawkers to double as sleuths
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: The next tourist season won’t be business as usual for security guards, tourist guides, local panwallahs, taxi drivers and hawkers in Goa’s coastal belt. Along with routine work, they will also be expected to work as the eyes and ears of the Goa police to avert any terrorist attack in the state.
DGP B S Brar has issued directives to senior police officers to activate their beat patrolling, as well as focus on improving police-public relations. The main purpose of this, said top officials, is to ensure the police are able to generate intelligence and information from the public. “Security guards, panwallahs, taxi drivers, motorcycle pilots, hawkers, tourist guides, people working in guest houses and hotels come in touch with different people who visit or live in Goa. They can provide valuable criminal intelligence,’’ said SSP R S Yadav, adding Goa needed a a long-term strategy to counter terrorism.

2008 Jul 21, The Times of India, Mumbai