MARGAO
An uneasy calm prevailed at Benabhat in Sao Jose de Areal over the Shiv Jayanti celebrations, with the police and district authorities maintaining a close vigil in the area throughout Wednesday.
The day passed off peacefully without any untoward incident as a group of Shiv premis paid respects to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed in the hilly land through the alternate land vetted by South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus.
As a precautionary measure, the police were deployed in strength at the tenanted land where the tenant supported by local residents of Areal have been opposing entry towards Shivaji statue. In fact, the tenanted land was barricaded by barbed wire fencing by the tenant and a board put up that tresspassers will be prosecuted. A posse of policemen were deployed at the tenanted field in question to prevent entry of any person. As it turned out, the group of Shiv premis headed to the statue of Shivaji to pay respect through the alternate route, which was agreed on Monday by all the parties.
South Goa Superintendent of Police, South Tikam Singh Verma along with SDPO, Margao DySP Sidhant Shirodkar and police officers also walked towards the property where the statue of Shivaji last year to take stock of the situation.
In fact, the police has mobilized police force from entire Salcete division as a precautionary measure to avert any law and order problem. Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Ramesh Gaonkar, Salcete Mamlatdar Vimod Dalal, besides officials deployed as Executive Magistrates were posed at Benabhat-Areal as a precautionary measure.
