SANGUEM
The death of a youth in an accident involving a goods carrier vehicle on Wednesday evening at Cotarli-Sanguem sparked off protests, with locals staging a road blockade agitation in the village on Thursday.
During their agitation, the villagers insisted on a complete ban on heavy vehicles on the village road, which has cause traffic problems. They also demanded a permanent job to the brother of the deceased village youth at the factory after claiming that the truck transporting products of the company had caused the death of the youth.
On Wednesday evening, Navlesh Chari (25) was proceeding to his home on a two-wheeler, when he was allegedly knocked down by an oncoming truck, leading to his death on the spot.
After the fatal accident, agitated locals refused to take the body of the deceased youth until company officials assured a permanent job to the brother of the deceased at the company.
The locals then staged a road blockade agitation on Thursday morning.
Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai then intervened and convened a joint meeting with the villagers, company officials, police officials and Sanguem deputy collector in the village to decide on the demands put forth by the villagers.
At the meeting, company officials sought a period of five days to resolve the issue of a permanent job to the brother of the deceased, as the matter needs to be placed before higher authorities.
The villagers agreed to a five-day deadline but on condition that transportation activity in the village would be stopped for five days and company officials reportedly agreed to their demand.
The villagers also brought to the notice of the government authorities that henceforth they would not permit movement of vehicles above six wheels to ply on the internal village road till the government widens the road for industrial use.
It was only after the assurance given by company officials that villagers withdrew their agitation and also took possession of the dead body of the deceased youth for final rites.
Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai assured full support to the villagers in getting their grievances solved.
