LONDON
A brawl involving some unruly Goans at a nightclub in Hounslow, West London, on June 24 has led to serious consequences for the Goan community, with pubs and nightclubs beginning to cancel Goan functions for this summer season.
One such event, the Summer Fest, which was planned at a pub in Hounslow from 7 pm to 12 am on August 27, has already been cancelled and a poster announcing this cancellation is being circulated on social media.
According to sources, Goans and people hailing from other States in India frequent various pubs and nightclubs during weekends, to unwind from a long working week.
“Youth gather at their local pubs or nightclubs to relax, unwind and enjoy a good drink and dance. This is also an occasion for people to meet and connect with each other,” said the source.
On June 24, an incident involving some Goans at a nightclub in Hounslow, West London, led to a brawl inside the club and the fights then continued on the street.
“What triggered the scuffle is not very clear. An argument is reported to have broken out following an advance made at a couple. All hell then broke loose and the brawl inside the nightclub was captured on video and it went viral on social media,” said the source.
“The couple decided to leave the venue, but the fight continued between two groups on the street. The police were alerted and when a police van arrived at the scene, the youth fled from the scene. A video of this also went viral on social media. Many of the unruly youth involved in the brawl were from Goa.”
“Since the incident took place on June 24, it was initially assumed that it was connected with the Sao Joao revelries among the Goans that day. But the fact is that the brawl had nothing to do with the Sao Joao revelries and it was purely an incident at the nightclub on account of the weekend.”
Eyewitnesses at the nightclub said there had been severe damages to property following the brawl.
“Luckily, there was no serious casualty reported. Some young Goan youth who have migrated to the UK in the last few years cause trouble for a simple reason and are then involved in fights. It is believed that the troublemakers involved in the June 24 incident had come to Hounslow from another area of London.”
Taking serious note of the incident, many pub and nightclub owners around Hounslow who mainly hail from others states in India had an informal meeting and decided to cancel forthcoming Goan public events in pubs and nightclubs catering to the Goan community.
One such event, the Summer Fest, planned on August 27, has already been cancelled as a result of this decision by pub and nightclub owners.
Since some Goan youth were linked to the incident, the Goan community which has a sizeable presence, has been facing a backlash from residents in and around Hounslow, which largely comprises communities hailing from different parts of India.
The incident has been sharply denounced by many Goans living in and around Hounslow.
“Fingers are being pointed at some unruly Goan youth for causing the trouble and the entire Goan community is being tarnished in the process. We have traditionally enjoyed cordial relations with Indians from other States over here and this one ugly and unfortunate incident has soured this relationship,” said a resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
