The protest by BJP and allied organisations at Zuarinagar on Thursday demanding justice for the victims of the assault at Zuarinagar.
VASCO
The violent attack on the Kaushal family at Zuarinagar, Sancoale, has triggered political condemnation and protests, with Congress leaders demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into recurring incidents of violence, while BJP leaders and Hindu organisations have issued an eight-day ultimatum to the police to arrest all those involved.
Cortalim Congress leader Mahesh Nadar condemned the attack and demanded that the police identify not only those responsible but also those allegedly backing them. He called for a thorough investigation to establish whether influential individuals were shielding criminal elements and allowing them to operate with impunity.
Congress leader Olencio Simoes alleged that the law-and-order situation in the Cortalim constituency had deteriorated over the past four-and-a-half years, with illegal activities and businesses mushrooming across the area. He said the attack should not be treated as an isolated incident, pointing to recurring murders, violent clashes and assaults in Zuarinagar.
Referring to information that Verna police had notified 10 history-sheeters, Simoes sought an investigation into possible links between criminal networks, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, extortion and violent offences. He also raised concerns over drug-related issues and student safety, referring to the reported deaths of eight students associated with BITS Pilani, Goa.
Simoes appealed to Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to order an SIT probe into the recurring violence across Zuarinagar and the Cortalim constituency. The investigation, he said, should examine alleged political patronage, possible criminal networks and lapses in policing, with action based on evidence and without political interference.
Meanwhile, members of the Cortalim BJP Mandal, BJP Yuva Morcha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, RSS and other Hindu organisations staged a mass agitation on Thursday, condemning the attack on the family and demanding the arrest of every accused within eight days.
The protesters questioned why Abhinav Kaushal, whom they described as an RSS-associated gau rakshak, had allegedly been targeted along with his family. They also alleged that some accused had filed a counter-complaint while the injured family members were being taken to hospital, claiming they too had been assaulted.
Bajrang Dal's Nitin Faldesai called for a fair investigation into both sides, insisting that nobody responsible should escape arrest. BJP Cortalim convenor Deepak Naik demanded decisive action within the stipulated period, warning of serious law-and-order consequences if the police failed to act.
Former sarpanch Girish Pillai and former panch Satish Padwalkar also condemned the assault and called for residents' protection. VHP's Sanju Korgaonkar appealed for communal harmony and urged people to reject intimidation and violence.
The protesters warned that failure to arrest all those involved within eight days could prompt them to mobilise youths in large numbers, potentially escalating tensions. They called for a fair investigation and urged residents across communities to maintain peace and allow the law to take its course.
