the goan I network
CORTALIM
According to reports, the incident took place as the motorcycle of Sancoale panch and BJP supporter Rangappa Kamal was proceeding towards the Zuarinagar market, while the car belonging to ZP member and Cortalim Congress candidate, Mariano Rodrigues, was travelling in the opposite direction.
There were conflicting reports regarding the person driving the car, with some claiming that Mariano was driving the vehicle, while others insisting that his cousin was steering the vehicle. Incidentally, the accident site is close to the residences of both parties.
Arguments between both parties took an ugly turn, when relatives of both Rodrigues and Kamal rushed to the site and began assaulting each other, besides damaging the vehicles.
Incidentally, there have been previous clashes between both groups in the run up to the assembly elections.
Clashes then broke out between the two groups near their residences and tension escalated further as supporters of both groups also went to the site, on hearing news of the incident. Both groups began hurling stones at
each other.
Police from the Birla outpost and Verna police station rushed to the site and brought the situation
under control.
Twelve persons -- Kamal, two women, a minor and four persons from one group and Mariano’s brother, Valente, and three others from the other group -- were injured in the group clashes.
Five persons, Valente and two others from one group, and Kamal and his brother from the other group, were later admitted to Hospicio hospital at Margao.
While Verna police declined to give details, sources said the BJP group had lodged a written police complaint, while the Congress group was in the process of filing a counter complaint.
So far, no arrests have taken place and Verna police is investigating the case.
