MAPUSA
Avoiding a direct answer on the delay in arresting the accused involved in the attack against the Verla-based businessman, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the police department is “very active” and people should avoid criticising government servants.
He said those who criticise the cops should first give credit to the police for solving the abduction of the one-month-old child within 24 hours.
“The police department is a very active department. If government servants have done good work, they should be congratulated,” Sawant said.
He said politicians can be criticised but not government servants who are working for the people of Goa.
“Political accusations can be made against the politicians. Those government servants who are working, at least they should not be criticised,” he said.
Incidentally, the main accused in the assault case, Rohan Harmalkar, is a BJP karyakarta and during the Zilla Panchayat elections, had supported the BJP candidate Siddesh Naik, son of Union Minister Shripad Naik, in the Corlim ZP election.
Sources informed that Harmalkar is one of the BJP ticket aspirants for the Cumbarjua assembly seat.
No connection in case, arrest those involved, says Lobo
MAPUSA: Strongly condemning the attack against Verla-based businessman Roy Fernandes and others, Ports Minister Michael Lobo said he was not in any way connected in the incident and some people were trying to implicate him (Lobo) for political reasons.
“Those involved in the attack should be immediately arrested. I have told the Anjuna PI to take strong action against the anti-social elements who assaulted Roy Fernandes and others,” Lobo said.
Fernandes along with two of his associates were allegedly assaulted by Rohan Harmalkar and four others on Saturday. Anjuna Police later lodged an FIR against all five but no arrests have been made so far.
Continuing, Lobo said he was not connected in the incident in any way and whoever was trying to implicate him was for political reasons. “Elections are approaching and this is nothing but to misguide the people of Calangute constituency that the local MLA is involved in some fights. This is all wrong. I strongly condemn the attack on Fernandes and others. Let the police investigate and let the truth come out,” he said.
Call for immediate arrest of ‘goons’
MAPUSA: Condemning the pre-meditated attack against the Verla-based businessman Roy Fernandes and two others last week, the Congress on Tuesday demanded immediate arrest of the “goons” involved in the assault case.
The Congress also alleged the involvement of the local MLA in the case and requested the chief minister to book him in the matter.
“Are we living in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh? The goons armed with iron rods led a murderous assault against three persons in broad daylight. If not for Emmanuel who took a hard blow on his leg, Roy Fernandes would have been dead today,” said Agnel Fernandes, General Secretary of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee.
The GPCC general secretary was addressing a news conference along with the President of North Goa District Congress Vijay Bhike, ex-sarpanch of Calangute Joseph Sequeira and others.
Fernandes requested the chief minister to book those involvement and take the case to its logical end.
He further alleged that on the previous day of the attack, the MLA had a meeting with the goons involved in the assault case in a starred hotel at Arpora. “Police should check the CCTV cameras of the hotel. If you want, I will also disclose the name of the hotel,” Fernandes said.
He said several NGOs and active civic groups in Calangute were involved in raising public issues that worked against the beach village. He further said Roy Fernandes was one such person who was very vociferous against some hill cutting and other land deals involved in the constituency.
Former sarpanch of Calangute Joseph Sequeira said people who were in the forefront in exposing the misdeeds of the local leadership were being harassed and appealed to the chief minister to inquire into the matter.
He also said the police, particularly the Calangute Police, have become puppets at the hands of the BJP government.
North Goa District Congress President, Vijay Bhike and former Parra sarpanch and social worker Benedict D’Souza also spoke.
