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What's On In Goa:
* Oct 16-17: Ornithology workshop, Bondla southernbirdwing.com
* Oct 16-27: Vipasana meditation, Alto Porvorim
* Oct 24: Antonio Pereira Puraskar (Award) ceremony, Porvorim
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As we read from time to time of rape being comitted on women in Goa after
they have been offered and accepted drinks that are spiked, I would like to
throw some light on this topic which is not confined to Goa only. Excerpts
arom a N. American newspaper are given here as a warhing of this problem and
I hope that tourists travelling to Goa will take cognisance of this menace.
GIRL GANG RAPED, POLICE SUSPECT DRINK SPIKED
A fifteen year old girl was assaulted by at least four men in a motel
room. Police believe that the girls drink had been spiked with GHB one of the
so-called date rape drugs, while she was attending a dance.
"This incident should serve as a wake-up call," said a police
spokesman. "People have to realise that this threat is very real."
The girl was found wandering naked in the hall of a motel one early
morning. The night before, she had been attending an alcohol free dance for
teenagers just a few doors away. The teenager told police that she remembered
little of what had happened, except that at one point she had been naked in a
room with four men. Investigators found evidence of sexual assault.
GHB or gamma-hydroxylbutyrate has gained notorierty as a date-rape drug
because it can cause drousiness, loss of inhibition and memory loss. This
attack on girl comes just weeks after a massive bust on a suspected trafficer
of GHB who was based just outside the city. The drug has been sold all over
North America. Because of a loophole in the law, it is being sold widely. GBL
(gamma butyrolactone) is the key ingredient in the manufacture of GHB . It
is a mixture of common industrial chemicals and acts as a depressant on the
central nervous system. The drug is colourless and odourless making it
ideal for spiking drinks. Once injested, it takes effect in 10 to 20 mins.
and lasts for several hours. A coaster has been designed to detect GHB. These
coasters are very reliable to detect GHB. Bar patrons use a straw to place a
drop of their drink on a test area on the coaster. If the drink is laced with
GHB, the test area changes colour. These coasters do not work well with
coloured drinks like red wine or rum and coke.
I have in writing this tried to warn people, both male and female,
never to leave their drinks to go to the washroom or to dance. Do not accep[t
drinks from strangers. One will remember a British girl who was gang raped by
four Goans and ended up comitting suicide in England. Edgar Fernandes who was
murdered in Istanbul could also have been drugged before he was robbed and
murdered. Such crimes are not reported in time and the police find it hard to
indict criminals as evidence is hard to collect and assaulted individuals do
not bother to go through the gamut of police investigations which are tedious
and time consuming. Besides, for those onlt travelling to far off countries,
they are obliged to return as witnesses for the police prosecutors and this
inconvenience should be borne in mind. This is a serious warning and no one
is immune from this danger. A little foresight can work wonders and protect
ones sexuality.
Edgar Martins
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