VASCO
Local fishermen in and around Bogmalo village have raised strong concern over the alleged harassment meted out to them by naval police and naval forces when they were on their way to the Grande Island to offer Litany prayers.
According to information, a group of 17 fishermen from Bogmalo were allegedly detained for over nine hours when they were on their way to offer prayers and Litany services at a holy cross on the island apparently under the control of the Indian Navy.
The agitated fishermen have now decided to take the matter up with the village panchayat and also with Dabolim MLA and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho.
The fishermen claimed that there were also a few tourist boats with several passengers who had arrived on the island. They claimed the naval police did not bother to ask the tourists and began targeting them.
Sources said that a group of 17 fishermen from Bogmalo loaded in two canoes had left from Santrem to the island to perform annual rituals of offering Litany and religious prayers.
One fisherman, who didn’t wish to be named, claimed that just when they were about to reach the island, a naval interceptor ship arrived and gheraoed their canoes and began inquiring.
“We were in the middle of the sea. We told them we were local fishermen and also produced our identity cards. We told them our fishing boats were licenced but the papers were at home. Though we were extremely polite, they pointed guns at us and said we will be placed under arrest because we looked like terrorists,” he narrated.
“We pointed out to other tourist boats with many passengers who had already arrived at the island but neither the passengers were questioned nor the boat
owners’ papers were verified. One of the officers said they can permit tourists but not terrorists. They tied us and put us in their boats,” he described further.
He claimed they were embarrassingly portrayed as terrorists in the presence of locals when they were offloaded at the MPT berth.
“They made us kneel down and clicked pictures and shot videos. We had to remain in a kneeling position for hours in the hot sun. Finally, they said we were drunk and conducted a medical examination. We were then taken to Vasco police station all tied up and the naval police escorted us with rifles and guns. We had to go hungry and without a drop of water from 10 am to 7 pm. Is it a crime to offer prayers?” asked the fisherman
