From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa

Margao, Nov 1: Benaulim Tourist Taxi Owners (BTTO) on Monday barged into the Benaulim Panchayat office and gheraoed officials demanding the banning of Kashmiris and Lamanis from carrying out illegal business activities on the beach and near hotels and resorts.

According to BTTO president John Rodrigues, these Lamanis and Kashmiri people selling clothes and other ornaments on the beach force tourists to buy the same, thus causing nuisance to them. As a result, the tourists have stopped coming and locals are losing business because of them

BTTO have sought action against the illegal activities within 8 days or else threatened to take legal recourse against the panchayat.

"These Lamanis and Kashmiris not only harass tourists but also sell drugs in the vicinity. We are concerned that the local youth may succumb to these. For this reason these people should be evacuated from this area," said Rodrigues.

When contacted in this regard, local MLA and agriculture minister Micky Pacheco he said that locals take the No Objection Certificate from Panchayat for business in the area and sublet it to Kashmiris and Lamanis for money.

"What I will do when these people are not concerned about the issue,'’ he shot back when queried.