the goan I network
VASCO
Around 2,000 supporters of Urban Development Minister Milind Naik from different parts of Mormugao Constituency gathered at Sada just outside Mormugao Police station on Sunday evening to show their solidarity with him.
The locals demanded strict action against Suraj Chodankar for allegedly attacking and verbally abusing the minister.
Naik’s supporters later submitted a memorandum to Mormugao PI Pravin Powar demanding police protection by way of regular patrolling and detention of suspicious characters and claiming that if the minister could be attacked, the residents cannot be safe.
One supporter Sanjay Parab said that he was shocked and surprised to witness and hear that goondaism still continued in Mormugao and there was a serious lapse in law and order.
History sheeters like Chodankar alias Balan along with one Raj Halwai accompanied by their close associates numbering 8 to 10, suddenly appeared on the scene and attacked Naik unprovoked, when he came at a site near Chafeshwar Mandir.
Naik was performing his duties towards his constituents on the request of some locals. Naik had learnt that a tree was dangerously tilting and could have endangered property and lives of people and some immediate measures were required by way of trimming of the branches.
“At the site, Naik tried to give some suggestions to minimise the loss to the property and avoid any casualty since the matter was urgent,” said Parab.
He added that people were deeply saddened and angered by this incident.
“It is sad that our MLA’s good work was reciprocated by violence from the two people who purposely came to the site and abused the MLA with malicious intention to malign his image and create a ruckus. Otherwise, under what capacity they can question an MLA? If they wanted to know whether there is permission, they should have approached the respective government office and lodged a complaint,” said Parab.
Another supporter and Ravindra Bhavan Baina Chairman Shashikant Parab said that Chodankar was giving false statements to the media, that the full tree was being cut. “He is a big-time liar and should be restricted from giving such false statements and misguiding the general public. The tree was only being trimmed and not cut. Such an act of Chodankar against the elected representative and further getting bail may cause concern to people in the locality and will send a bad message,” said Parab.
Another supporter Anita Gaude questioned as to what would be the fate of the general public when an elected representative was not spared. “Hence, now on, we request the police to take the responsibility to provide adequate protection to people of Mormugao by starting regular patrolling. The police should also detain suspicious and notorious characters of the locality and strictly ban miscreants from sitting at Sada junction bus stop location and at the illegal shed near Sai Baba temple. It is also understood that Chodankar and his gang and partners may possess illegal weapons and police should keep a close watch on their suspicious movements,” said Gaude.
