the goan I network
CANACONA
Angry locals ransacked two sweetmeat shops at Chaudi and flung the sweets on the footpath on Thursday, after accusing FDA officials of failing to inspect these shops for allegedly storing and selling contaminated sweets to people.
The incident began when a resident of Delem-Canacona found the sweets purchased by his mother from a sweetmeat shop on Wednesday to be contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption.
When the resident approached the shop, he was further aggrieved with their casual response.
The resident claimed it was the third time that he had encountered contaminated sweets from these shops and lodged a complaint with FDA officials, after being advised by several people who assured him support against the sweetmeat owners for jeopardising the health of people.
FDA officials informed the complainant that they would visit the site at 3 pm on Thursday and messages were circulated on WhatsApp and other social media, asking people to assemble at the shop at 3 pm.
When people reached the site at 3 pm, they were informed that an FDA team had reportedly arrived at 2 pm, met the sweetmeat owner at his residence and had left without collecting samples from the shop or getting in touch with the complainant.
The angry locals then asked the complainant to contact FDA officials on cellphone, but the officials refused to come to the shop and reportedly informed that they had inspected the sweets and advised him to get the contaminated sweets sold to him to their office.
The infuriated people then ransacked the shop and flung the sweets on the footpath and also targeted another shop of the sweetmeat shop owner, ransacking that shop as well.
With the situation turning tense, Canacona Mamlatdar Ramesh Gaonkar, Canacona Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudessai, PSI Prashal Desai and a police team rushed to the site and brought the situation under control.
Later, the Delem resident complained to Canacona Police against the sweetmeat owner, accusing him of selling contaminated sweets and risking the health of Canacona residents.
