The Hindu 20.09.2013
Mayor urges police to act against casino nuisance
Furtado writes to DGP that citizens are being troubled by inebriated staff
Mayor of City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) Surendra Furtado early this week wrote to Director General of Police (DGP) Kishan Kumar bringing to his notice that citizens of Panaji in certain areas have been complaining to him about nuisance faced from some staff and clients leaving casinos in the early hours in an inebriated condition.
The Mayor’s letter said citizens of Panaji along the D.B. Bandodkar road in the area from the Captain of Ports to the Santa Monica jetty, exit points of offshore casinos and along that stretch of road have complained that groups of boys and girls who are casino clients and staff, some of them in a state of inebriation, have been causing nuisance after midnight until the early hours of the morning.
The Mayor asserted that this is a very serious issue and needs to be addressed promptly.
“Many are seen moving about with beer bottles and cans drinking and disturbing the peace and tranquillity which affect the inhabitants of the area. Many a time broken beer and other liquor bottles as also crushed beer cans are seen strewn along and on the road. Casino clients are supposed to be dropped at the Casino entrance and picked up on leaving the Casino and not allowed to loiter about on the road,” Mr. Furtado said in his letter to the DGP.
Raising several pertinent questions, the Mayor’ letter said that according to the excise rules, bars all over are supposed to stop serving liquor at 11 p.m.
How is it that this rule is not applicable to those who frequent the Casinos?
As, it is consumption of alcohol in a public place is an offence under the Indian Penal Code.
In the interest of maintaining law and order in Panaji, the Mayor requested the DGP to forthwith deploy police personnel and to round up groups of Casino clients and staff if they are found to be disturbing the peace during the wee hours of the night and causing a nuisance to the residents of the area.
When contacted for his reaction, Mr. Kishan Kumar told The Hindu on Thursday that he had just received the letter and he would ensure that all that can be done under the law is done.
Mayor asserts that this is a serious issue and needs to be addressed.
