Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Feb 10: Several incidents of harassment involving women tourists were reported along Goa’s coastline over the past week, though timely intervention by beach safety personnel helped prevent escalation, according to beach safety agency Drishti Marine.

In one incident, some Russian women tourists were allegedly harassed by a group of men at Baga beach last week. Prompt action by a beach marshal and a lifesaver ensured the situation was brought under control. The domestic tourists involved were warned and later allowed to leave.

Drishti Marine said that overall, four cases of harassment involving women tourists, three medical emergencies and one lost-and-found case were reported across various beaches in the past week.

In another case, two male tourists from Telangana, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, harassed a foreign woman near the shoreline after she refused to take a selfie with them. One of the men allegedly tried to put his arm around her and attempted to kiss her. The two tourists were subsequently taken to a police station.

At Colva beach in South Goa, lifesavers intervened after a group of seven to eight tourists from Karnataka were allegedly found filming and photographing Russian women without their consent. The men were handed over to the Goa Police for further action.

Similarly, at Patnem beach on Sunday evening, lifesavers noticed five tourists from Bihar allegedly harassing and filming a couple from Pune without their consent. The couple was escorted to safety, and police were alerted. Police personnel reached the spot within 15 minutes and detained the tourists for further action.

Drishti Marine said around 70 beach marshals are currently deployed across five popular beaches — Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Colva and Benaulim — to ensure the safety of tourists and maintain order along the coastline.