the goan I network
MARGAO
A young Goan lad, Maclon Fernandes, who hit the road with his Skoda car on a mission to motivate unemployed youngsters by selling mangoes, was finally picked up by the Fatorda police on Sunday, drawing flak from civil society members.
Two policewomen, who walked in at the Ravindra Bhavan circle, Fatorda, attached Maclon’s car and cell phone before he was booked under section 34 of the Indian Police Act for obstructing traffic. At the police station, Maclon claimed that he was not even allowed to call his family members to inform them of his arrest, while he was told get the vehicle and mobile released through the court. “When the two lady cops approached me, I thought they have come to buy mangoes. Instead, they questioned me and got my cell phone lying in the car attached. At the police station, they did not allow me to call my family,” he said.
Fatorda Police station in-charge, PI Navlesh Desai, however, defended the police action. He said the police had arrested a total of four persons, including Maclon for obstructing traffic by selling goods alongside the road. “Maclon can approach the court and get his car and mobile released”, PI Navlesh said.
Activists Laurel Abranches and Felix Dias slammed the Fatorda police for acting against Maclon at the behest of their masters. “Maclon has been an inspiration to Goan youth who move out to London and other places for employment. What sin has Maclon committed if he is selling mangoes in his car. Are not non-Goans occupying every open space in Fatorda and other places. Why is the Fatorda police only targeting this local lad,” Laurel Abranches demanded to know. He demanded that if Maclon is an obstruction to traffic, the government should allot him a stall in the SGPDA market not only to sell fruits, but continue motivating the youth to take up self employment venture.
Felix Dias also echoed similar sentiments, while demanding that the government protect the interests of the sons of the soil.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesman Sidhanath Buyao, who also visited the police station, strongly condemned the arrest of a small Gõykar who has been selling some farm produce like mangoes in his car and earning his living through honest means. “Fatorda police acts obviously on cases like these on behest of local MLA. The local MLA is known to make statements by using the word Gõykar far too often but the Governmental authorities under him are acting against Gõykar in the most harshest manner possible,” he said, while demanding that the Fatorda Police should immediately apologise for their anti Gõykar act and release Maclon’s articles which are perishable in nature.
“The Government and the authorities cannot be harassing Gõykars. The Congress party strongly objects against any act intended to harass Gõykars,” Buyao said.
