Goa: Drugs “freely available” at Vagator ‘Holy Weekend’ unholy parties

MAPUSA: According to sources, drugs were being “served” at several ‘Holy Weekend’ parties that have mushroomed in the Anjuna-Vagator belt over the long weekend holiday, with hundreds of youngsters from Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad making a beeline for the coastal state.

The EDM (electronic dance music) parties which boast of a line-up of foreign artistes and international musicians were advertised voraciously on social media for the last one week. The flyers openly declared that ‘tickets are available on PayTM Insider’.

Sources claimed the tickets were being sold in black at certain shacks, clubs and restobars in North Goa and were priced at over Rs 10,000/- to Rs 20,000/-

Guests were ‘offered’ a variety of party drugs (at premium prices) and our undercover reporter who attended one of the parties on Friday said, charas, ganja, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) also known as ecstasy; and ketamine were available at the venue by drug peddlers who had infiltrated the party crowd.

The security was not up to the mark and drug peddlers were seen inside the party premises doing a roaring business, our reporter noticed. In addition, drugs were available around the venues and any contraband product was ‘just a call away,’ as one peddler boasted. The peddler who gave his name only as Kumar said he had come from Chennai for the party and was carrying almost every narcotic product with him.

Social activist from Candolim, Benedict Dsouza said he was surprised how these lavish and blatantly unholy parties were allowed to be held during Holy Week – a period of penance and fasting for Christians throughout the world. He also wondered how sound pollution (over permissible levels) was permitted in the area, with the organisers openly advertising their high-powered sound systems.

“I am not sure if the organisers have obtained permissions for such lavish events. The Panchayat and police authorities must look into these events at Anjuna and Vagator and scrutinize their papers,” Dsouza demanded, adding that the cops were possibly hand-in-glove with the organisers or it would not be possible to organise such huge parties during the Lenten period.

While it is not known (at the time of going to press) if the organisers had obtained requisite permissions, including those from the police, Panchayat and Tax authorities (for selling tickets), tickets were on sale for the last 10 days and openly advertised on social media, across the country.

An official response from the cops is awaited.