PANJIM: Every breath blown, every move made, every step taken during the three-day Sunburn Goa electronic music fest, will be watched by men in uniform. There will be one uniformed policeman at the venue for every 10 persons dancing to the tunes of the world's best names in electronic music.
While granting approval for the Sunburn festival starting Monday, the state home department insisted that only 2,000 people at a time be allowed entry to the venue and 200 cops in uniform be posted within. Also people will not be able to smoke there as the venue has been declared a 'no -smoking zone'. Anyone wanting to light a cigarette would have to do so at a special smoking lounge at the venue which would be continuously monitored by the police.
"A police outpost should be set up near the stage for 200 uniformed policemen," the home department said. It further said, "A special smoking lounge be set up in a non-public identified area which will be continuously monitored by the police department. In all other areas "No-smoking zone" boards should be prominently installed." The permission granted on December 23 is signed by under secretary home, G P Dangui with directions to the DGP to ensure necessary security arrangements and that law and order is maintained.
The organizer's PR agents, Percept Ltd joint managing director Shailendra Singh, however, said that over three days 15,000 people are expected to participate at the festival. Of these 1,500 will be on the VIP lawn. Singh added that the organizers will try their best to stick to the law and conditions imposed by the state government. "Our unconditional endeavour is to ensure safety of the people," Singh said. Though he did not make a reference to uniformed policemen, he said plainclothes policeman along with their narcotic patrol officers and sniffer dogs will keep a check on drugs which are banned at the venue.
Earlier in a report to the government, police had advised the authorities to ensure that the organizers be granted permission for the festival only if the cops' conditions are met. Sources said police wanted to ensure there is no sale of drugs at the venue as the department was targeted last year after 23-year-old Meha Bahuguna of , who was last seen partying at the festival, allegedly died of a drug overdose after consuming angel dust, a hallucinogenic drug. Also in the wake of intelligence inputs on suspected terrorist activity in the West coast during the Christmas and New Year season, following which the police have been put on alert, the state authorities are not willing to take any chances. (TNN)
We don't need this damn festival. Yet again forced on us. This is destroying our Goan youth. Should we pay such a high price? The people have said 'NO' to this festival. If we are a democracy and like Mr Marathe would like us to be so proud be under dominate India, why is this festival being allowed. Goa is treated by India as a place for all immorality and drugs so that it can get foreign exchange money. I ask our people, we need to start speaking up! OUr youth are being destroyed; they are the future of Goa. They need to be protected. The Home Minister has said no drugs exist in Goa. Do you see how they are working to destroy us and OUR Goa. Time to start fighting. Maybe special status may save us. We have to do something. When our temples and churches are looted everyday, it is a sign of the times, OUR Goa and our society is in grave danger. We are in serious trouble. I wish Dr Sequeira was around to help us. Mr A. Rodrigues, all the brave mothers
ReplyDeleteof Goa, as they balls then the men of Goa, fight for OUR Goa. We need special status now! We must not rest ‘till is done. We owe to the future youth of Goa. Make our forefathers-and-mothers smile again.
When the Gua Pulis could not maintain law and order in normal cases, what will they do at Sunburn? Anyway, why do we need these festivals? As mentioned in the article, Pulis will watch and do nothing. The real public of Goa lacks security from the police. In normal cases, police are not available when in need. Will someone clarify how much is paid to the Goan exchequer for the saervices of the gua Pulis? Or is it paid in private?
ReplyDeleteThanks to Trevor for writing a strong comment. Do we need these festivals? Do we need film festivals? How many Goans are benefitted by these festivals? How many Goans, I mean real common man attend these festivals? These festivals increase the revenue of people like Charas Naik & family, the police officers and the goan Crumb Eaters including MLA Agnelo Fernandes.