Mahila Congress raises concern over illegal spas & dance bars, women safety

Goa Khabar : The Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress has raised a red flag over what it describes as widespread illegal activities operating under the guise of massage parlours and spas in Calangute and Panaji.

Dr Pratiksha Khalap, President of the Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, expressed deep concern over the rising tide of atrocities against women across the state, pointing specifically to recent reports of rape and the unchecked, unpunished operations of dance bars.

She was speaking at a press conference attended by Mahila Congress General Secretary and GPCC Spokesperson Advocate Lavinia D’Costa, Calangute Mahila Block President Carmelina Fernandes, and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson Vivek D’Silva.

Dr Khalap highlighted a recent harrowing incident where a woman, who had come to Goa to work in a spa and massage parlour, was raped.

“So many such illegalities are happening in Calangute. In Panaji too, there are more than 40 spas operating. How is this flesh trade being allowed to operate, and under whose protection are these establishments running? There are various rules, including health and labour licences, required to run a spa. Yet, so many illegalities are taking place in these spaces,” she said.

Dr Khalap pointed out that although the court had previously ordered the closure of such illegal operations, they continue to function regardless. “These activities are still operating. The same thing happened when the ‘Birch’ fire occurred; the government put on a show of acting against illegalities, but they still flourish. Are politicians and the police protecting such activities?” she questioned.

“In Panaji, where these spas operate, we feel they are directly linked to the casinos. Who requires massages in the middle of the night? Flesh trade is happening, and women and children are being exploited in these activities. There is gambling, drugs, and dance bars being operated,” she added.

Adv D’Costa lamented the stark change in Goa’s safety landscape, recalling that 15 to 20 years ago, women of all ages walked the streets without fear, whereas today, an atmosphere of anxiety prevails across the state.

“Now, when a woman goes out, parents are constantly worried about their children. They worry whether young girls will reach home safely from school, college, or other activities. Young women and elderly women alike are deeply anxious. They are terrified of this prevailing atmosphere of fear. In recent days, we have read news reports of a special child being molested, two minors being raped, and an 84-year-old woman being subjected to rape. There are so many such cases,” she said.

She further stated that illegal activities are rampant in spas across the North Goa belt. Providing statistical context, she said that in Calangute alone, there were 18 cases regarding illegal spa activities recorded in 2013, 5 cases in 2014, 9 cases in 2015, 8 cases in 2016, 9 cases in 2017, and 6 cases in 2018.

“The recent case of a woman who was raped after coming to Goa for work has brought this to light. She was coerced into keeping quiet about the incident. What safety is there for our women? These spas and massage parlours are running unchecked, casinos have multiplied, and illegal activities have escalated,” she added.

Adding to the concerns, GPCC Spokesperson Vivek D’Silva said that numerous illegal spas, massage parlours, and dance bars are currently operating in Calangute, with simple internet searches generating vast lists of establishments that surprisingly operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Who goes to these spas at three or four in the morning to get their feet massaged? What licensing permits them to run 24×7? Tourists come here for holidays and find themselves trapped in these setups. Touts are operating freely despite fines and enforcement actions. There must be a proper mechanism to eradicate these touts. Tourists get trapped and can even end up being beaten up; there are many such cases documented online,” he said.

He further said that these businesses are generally not run by Goans.

“The authorities must investigate the modus operandi of the outsiders running these businesses. They are tarnishing the image of Goa. When a local resident objects to these operations, they are harassed. We will expose the people behind this. These individuals are creating a culture of fear in our land, and this is completely unacceptable. There is a goonda atmosphere. There must be a thorough investigation into where the profits of these businesses are going—whether they are being used to finance someone’s election campaigns or political propaganda. This is the need of the hour,” he urged.

D’Silva also recalled that back in 2015, the Calangute MLA had gone on a hunger strike to oppose dance bars in the area. Despite this, he said, the bars continued to operate until the High Court was forced to step in.

“In 2023, it was the High Court that had to crack down on these dance bars, resulting in 11 of them being sealed. Yet, from 2025 onwards, dance bars are still operating. How are they allowed to function? Who is giving them permissions, and who is verifying their excise and trade licences? Who is responsible for this, and who is protecting them? The government departments have the power, but it seems their hands are tied. The police are also failing to act. Law and order has collapsed in Calangute. Are our women and sisters truly safe?” he said.