Targetting
rave parites ?
Sandesh Prabhudesai
21 December 2002
Will
Goa be the next target of terrorist organisations
like Al Qaida, especially when the coastal state
is getting flooded with foreigners, mainly the
Europeans?
The European countries are silent,
but the fear is expressed by Israel. Though taken
enough precautions, Goa chief minister Manohar
Parrikar however dismisses it as a business tactic
of a few vested interests, which have lost business.
But a fact cannot be denied that
the fear of terror attack on the Goan coast during
Christmas celebrations has emerged from Jerusalem
and the Israel Consul even air dashed here two
days ago.
The fact also cannot be denied that
thousands of young and hefty Israelis have made
Goa as their favourite destination nowadays, thanks
to the 'blessings' of the law and order authorities
for round-the-clock open air rave parties.
In fact, one of the tiny beach in
North Goa is being named as Israeli beach, simply
because the young and hefty Israelis have made
it their favourite joint. Even other foreigners
are driven away from there by the Israeli toughies,
claim the locals.
Compared to the young European raves,
Israeli is a very small number. It's like a pilgrim
trip for them every year. The local toughies arrange
the whole-night party on a secluded beach, in
collusion with the law and order authorities and
politicians.
Drugs are distributed here as 'prasad'
and liquor as the 'teerth' (holy water). Goa Trance
is the favourite music, played continuously like
prayers are chanted during 'puja', with full-blast
music system, no matter any old villager or a
newborn baby or even a heart-ailing patient does
not get sleep.
With the fear expressed by Israel
that Goa may be targeted during New Year's Eve
celebrations on the beaches, the state police
are caught in a tight soup. They also cannot remain
silent because it has actually happened in Bali
in Indonesia and then in Mombassa.
The commandos are thus posted all
along the Goan coast, with stenguns and rifles,
intelligence network has been tightened around
all those places where foreigners are camping
and even cyber cafes are being monitored to keep
watch on the surfers of Al Jazeera website.
This security has been provided
to all the hotels and restaurants that organise
dances and festivals on the occasion of Christmas
Eve, then the Christmas, then the New Year eve
and then the New Year. Some of the local organisers
also hold street dances on the occasion, which
attracts foreigners as well, besides the Indian
tourists.
But the million-dollar question
here is whether the illegally held rave parties
will be stopped or provided such security. "There
are no such parties held or allowed", claims
Karnal Singh, the DIG of Police. But the news
pouring here from the coastal villages confirms
that the 'season' of rave parties has already
begun.
Mid-December to mid-January is not
the peak season only for the Indian and foreign
tourists who enjoy the Christmas 'spirit', but
also for the cops who even close their ears to
the full-blast trance music of rave parties and
the henchmen of powerful politicians who arrange
such series of parties, sometimes from 9 pm to
12 noon the next day.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
here used to demand ban on the rave parties when
the Congress was ruling here. Now, it's turn of
the opposition Congress. "There is a spate
of rave parties during the BJP rule", alleges
Nirmala Sawant, the Goa Congress chief.
The local organisers laugh away
these publicity stunts of politicians while the
ravers are used to the grapevine messaging system
to know which is the next location and date of
yet another party. Nobody can stop them because
Goa is the only place in the world, where such
open-air parties are 'allowed'.
Obviously, for the terrorist organisations,
it is the best place to attack since nothing is
legal here, everything takes place in the dark
and not less than three to four thousand whites
are found 'floating in the air', to the beats
of Goa Trance day and night. How will the state
justify if such a place is attacked?
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