After B’luru tourists hit at shack, 2 staffers held, licence suspended

Panaji: The tourism department on Thursday suspended the licence of a beach shack at Calangute after its employees allegedly assaulted a group of tourists from Bengaluru with iron rods, triggering outrage and police action.

The licence of shack No. 16 at Umtavaddo beach, held by Francisco Rosario, was suspended following preliminary investigation that shack staff were directly involved in the attack. Two individuals identified as Stanley Coutinho and Rohit were named during the inquiry and are known to Calangute police as habitual offenders with prior criminal records.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night after the tourists went for a swim and later rested on a beach bed belonging to Planet Goa Restaurant and Shack.

Police said an argument broke out when staff asked the group of seven tourists from Bengaluru, including 27-year-old businessman, Sayed Zakir, to vacate the bed, after which the shack workers allegedly attacked the tourists using metal rods and beach umbrella poles.

Condemning the assault, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said the incident was unacceptable and violated Goa’s hospitality ethos. “Goa believes in ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. If tourists are beaten up, why will they come to Goa?” he said, adding that such acts severely damage the state’s tourism image.

The tourism department has summoned Rosario for a hearing on Monday and said further action, including permanent cancellation of the licence and forfeiture of the security deposit, is under consideration. Officials reiterated a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and public nuisance at tourist locations.

Tourism director Kedar Naik said the use of weapons at an international tourist destination amounted to a grave violation of the Goa State Shack Policy and the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act, and had tarnished the state’s reputation as a safe destination.

Meanwhile, Goa police arrested two shack employees — Dinesh Kumar and Dhupendra Yadav — in connection with the assault. A complaint filed by Zakir alleged that he and six friends were attacked at around 11.30 pm, suffering serious bleeding injuries. Police are examining charges, including attempt to murder.

SP Vishwesh Karpe confirmed that an FIR has been registered and that the investigation, led by Calangute PSI Vishwajit Dhavalikar, is ongoing.