the goan I network
PANAJI
The dark side of the coastal belt came into focus once again after five girls who were being exploited at a dance bar in Calangute were rescued by the police recently.
Police swung into action after receiving a call on ‘181’ a women’s helpline and raided the bar which was being operated behind the Calangute bus stand. Of the 5 girls who were rescued, 3 are reported to be minors and have been sent to the Apna Ghar.
Legal adviser to the government-appointed agency ‘181 helpline’ Adv Vahida Elger, who was among those in raiding team and incidentally is also a complainant, has alleged that police are now trying to hush up the case.
She alleged that though the FIR had been registered by Calangute police on the same day, no action has been taken so far by investigating officers.
“When we raided the place there were around 200 men who were consuming alcohol... these girls were forced to dance in front of all these men”, said Advocate Elger.
The owner of bar Sunil Bhomkar was arrested and released on bail, but no further action has been taken,
she said.
Police Inspector of Calangute police station Nolasco Raposo when contacted said that there is no much evidence gathered from the CCTV footage at the bar.
The team associated with ‘181 helpline’ has, however written about inaction of police to Goa State Commission For Protection of Child Rights. Sources disclosed that the Commission has forwarded this complaint to Director General of Police and sought a report from him.
Sushma Mandrekar of Goa State Commission For Protection of Child Rights, however, refused to comment stating that the matter is confidential. While the Member of Child Welfare Committee Shabnam Khan refused to give any information about the victim girls saying she had been instructed by her seniors not to speak to media, director of Women and child department said no report has been yet been received.
Sources have alleged that the police have not yet sent the rescued minor girls for any medical checkup. Even the parents have not been consulted, said Advocate Elger.
We are not getting information from the Calangute police station about what action was taken after the girls were rescued, she added. It is learnt from sources that one Chotu Sigh was running the dance bar.
