Jaisalmer as a Tourist Spot Spoilt by Lapkas

Jaisalmer. A network of lapkas (Touts) is still active in the world famous Golden City Jaisalmer. They would chase and force tourist vehicles to stop midway around Pokhran and other nearby villages (before entering the Jaisalmer city).

Jaisalmer Tourism Business Association President Jitendra Singh Rathore said that 'Operation Welcome' campaign was launched to make Jaisalmer lapka-free and to provide security to the tourists, which has started with correct perspective but result seems failed.

Rathore said these lapkas follow the vehicles of tourists. Their speed is so fast that sometimes accidents also take place. The image of Jaisalmer as a tourist spot was being spoilt by these lapkas. Police are not ensuring basic security, we need proper security. 

Jaisalmer Tourist Officer Khemendra Singh Jam said that Tourism in Jaisalmer is being affected by lapkas, Jaisalmer is situated near the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, is frequented by almost five lakh tourists, both domestic and foreign, in a year. 'Operation Welcome' campaign has been started with an aim to protect tourists from lapkas and check misbehavior and snatching away incidents but till today the campaign had not created a safer environment for tourists in the city.

Chandan Dan Charan, an Hotelier said that Lapkas were misbehaving and forcing tourists to make purchases at certain shops and hire services of select persons. Lapkas were people who followed tourists, tried to cheat them, misbehaved with them, and sometimes snatched away their belongings. 

He said lapkas do not even hesitate from entering trains and swindling the tourists, if its carry on than no tourist will like to come here if such peoples stay here more.

Circle Inspector Jetha Ram of Jaisalmer city police station said that city police started 'Operation Welcome' last year to check the growing menace of 'lapkas', or touts, with action so far having been taken against 100 such persons for harassing and cheating tourists.

He said that since lapkas also entered trains to swindle tourists, the cooperation of the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force, too, had been sought as part of the drive. 

Superintendent of Police Jaisalmer Dr Rajeev Pachar said that these anti-social elements create misconceptions in the minds of tourists and insist that the tourist groups check in at particular hotels only. We do get complaints from tourists, but it is mostly the police teams which proactively took action in these cases.

Pachar said strict action would be taken under Goonda Act against those who are caught more than three times, he added. We want the tourists to enjoy their visit here and carry back pleasant memories.