Beach rowdies pose a challenge to Mangalore police

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Apr 28: The Mangalore police now have to deal with moral police, goondas, underworld elements, terrorists, as well as beach rowdies. 

The beach rowdies, the latest addition to the list of unsavory elements, do no spare even police officers. Recently, a newly wed deputy commissioner had visited the beach with his wife only to find himself tied to a tree and robbed. The officer later arrested the goons. 

All the popular beaches of Mangalore, such as Thaneerbavi, Surathkal, Sasihitlu, Chitrapur, Panambur, and Someshwara are infested with beach rowdies. Praveen, who owns a push card in Panambur, said that they move in gangs and attack lonely couples, groups of young people, as well as families who have arrived to enjoy the sea. They also demand hafta from the roadside vendors. 

Yathish Baikampady, the chief executive officer of Panambur beach development project, has confirmed the existence of beach rowdies. He also added that the launching of beach development projects has improved the scenario because they have their people to keep an eye on the beach rowdies. 

Ramesh, the additional superintendent of police, said that the Mangalore beaches are under intense police surveillance, adding that police patrolling needs to be further intensified, especially in the evenings, when a large number of people arrive at the beach to have fun and relax. 

The District Crime Investigation Bureau (DCIB) states that the rowdies are chiefly targeting unsuspecting tourists from Bangalore, Mysore, and North Karnataka. Mukund Naik, the coastal police inspector, said that two policemen on motorbikes patrol Panambur and Thaneerbavi beaches and that vigilance will be launched at other beaches too.