MAPUSA
An incident involving a domestic tourist allegedly filming and photographing women tourists without their consent at Calangute beach has once again raised concerns over the behaviour of some visitors and its impact on Goa’s reputation as a safe international tourist destination.
The incident came to light when a tourist police patrol spotted a man behaving suspiciously in the beach vicinity. During routine surveillance, police personnel observed the individual allegedly recording videos and taking photographs of women tourists.
The suspect was detained and questioned by the tourist police. According to police sources, he failed to provide satisfactory explanations for his actions. A subsequent examination of his mobile phone reportedly revealed multiple videos and photographs of women tourists stored on the device.
During interrogation, the man allegedly admitted that the images and videos had been recorded without the consent of the women concerned.
Police identified the accused as Akash Saroj (32), a resident of Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh.
He was later handed over to Calangute Police along with his mobile phone for further investigation. Authorities subsequently initiated preventive action against him under the relevant legal provisions.
Police sources said the accused was part of a group of five to six tourists who had arrived in Goa three days earlier. Preliminary inquiries indicated that the group had been consuming alcohol before the incident.
The episode has renewed concerns among tourism stakeholders about instances of visitors harassing or invading the privacy of women tourists, particularly foreign nationals who frequent Goa’s beaches.
Industry observers warn that such incidents not only create discomfort and insecurity among visitors but also damage Goa’s image as a welcoming and safe destination.
Tourism stakeholders have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement against acts of harassment, voyeurism, and inappropriate conduct at beaches and other tourist hotspots.
They argue that maintaining a safe environment for all visitors is crucial to preserving Goa’s standing in the highly competitive tourism market.
