Goan rhapsody continues…..

These raves, I also learnt, were generally organized at remote islands and other isolated places, away from the public gaze. I was appalled on hearing of this phenomenon, and particularly by the indifference of the Goa Police towards it. I decided to put an end to this practice and stop the open use of narcotic substances and concomitant illegal activities. I asked my juniors to launch a drive against such parties and put a stop to them. Officers-in-charge of police stations were warned that if news of such a party being held in their jurisdiction reached the police headquarters, they would face unpleasant consequences.

Thereafter, a cat and mouse game began between the cops and the organizers of the raves. As soon as we learnt of a venue where such an event was planned, a police picket was deployed there. The venue would then move elsewhere, but thanks to proper intelligence gathering, we would reach there as well. Gradually, the brazen distribution of leaflets and pasting of notices disappeared. Communication between party organizers and drug addicts was now only by word of mouth. However, with a strong network of informants, we were always a step ahead of them and would appear on the scene unexpectedly. Several drug peddlers were caught with narcotic substances in their possession and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

 The fear of god spread amongst the drug community and there was a lull for some time. No information on rave parties being held was forthcoming. But it  would be foolish, I told my officers, to lower our guard. Sure enough, information was received that a rave party was to take place at Canacona Island in the extreme south of Goa, bordering Karnataka. I ordered the deployment of officers at the point from where ferries plied to the island. Anyone approaching the ferry point was asked to show their identification papers. No rave party reveller wanted her personal details to be entered into police records and nor were the organizers prepared for a confrontation with the police.

To be continued….