Goa-Stop watersport activities by sunset: Police to operators

Stop watersport activities by sunset: Police to operators
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: The Goa police, in a determined bid to curb the movement of jetskis and speedboats after sunset have issued notices to water sports operators to stop activities by sunset to prevent the infiltration of terrorists through the sea. Notices have been issued under section 149 of the CrPC to prevent cognizable offences.
Besides, a proposal will also be sent to the captain of ports and director of tourism to stop operations of water sports activities during late evening hours in the sea, “which makes it difficult for the police to identify” the user, highly placed police sources said. Water sports activities are a common feature in the popular coastal belt of North Goa. Sometime back, a proposal was sent to captain of ports and director of tourism to allot “a small portion of land to install a surveillance tower” in the Baga, Calangute stretch, where a majority of water sports operators are located on account of the area being popular with both, foreign and Indian tourists.
The police wrote, “Considering the recent terror attacks at Mumbai, its essential to maintain surveillance on the sea front”. The spot for the surveillance tower was identified at Baga beach.
The Goa police, which has intensified patrolling and strengthened security in the state following the terror attacks in Mumbai, during a meeting with the fishermen and trawler owners to appraise them of the present terror scenario in the country, wherein terrorists had infiltrated through the sea route, have realized that it won’t be easy maintaining security along the coastaline on account of the manner in which the water sports operators have been functioning.
“During the meetings held, it was equivocally stated that jetskis and speedboats have been operating during late evening hours in the sea,
which makes it difficult to identify any unknown vessel or boat moving in the sea due to presence of water sports activities,” said police sources.
The police were interacting with fishermen and trawler owners to request their co-operation in the maintenance of security along the coastal line.
Owners of offshore casinos anchored in the river Mandovi have also tightened security in and around their vessels in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, even as the coastal police is patrolling the river water 24 X7. Nimai Biswas, proprietor of Scansea marine, which ensures that security is maintained as per the international security code, said, “We have trained security officers and a security system is in place to sense a terror strike. We have taken all precautions to keep our guests safe”.
Sources added that the casino owners have heightened security at the entrance of the casinos and even inside the vessels.
“We have installed metal detectors and everyone who enters the casino is frisked. No one is allowed to carry bags on board. Moreover, security guards are keeping a close watch on movements in and outside the casinos,” said an operator.

December 9, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition