MARGAO
Has this 27-year old unknown woman from Thane-Maharashtra fallen in love with Cuncolim? Or, is she making a place for herself at the Cuncolim Martyrs' Memorial Park near the KTC bus stand?
For the third time in as many months, the One Stop Centre (OSC), South Goa had sent her back to her native place in Thane with police protection on Friday.
In the past, the woman was sent to her native place but she managed to return back and tried to make Cuncolim Martyrs Memorial her second home.
Women’s rights activist and OSC, South in-charge, Auda Viegas said the woman was seen loitering at the Cuncolim Martyrs Memorial for the last three months. The woman parks herself around the bus stand and the Martyrs Memorial Park. She uses the park for sleeping, bathing and washing and drying clothes. She even combs her hair using the granite mirror of the Memorial”, she added.
Auda said when the One Stop Centre South Goa team asked the woman if she has any complaint against anyone, she denied. “On earlier two occasions OSC South Goa convinced her, admitted her to Sakhi South Goa Shelter home, and later dropped her at home in Maharashtra. We have also enquired with her relatives about her reason for coming so often to Goa. She claims she is looking for a job. Although she is a major we have dropped her to Maharashtra with an escort too”, she said, as she expressed apprehensions that the woman may be abused at the place since she stays alone between the park and the bus stand.
Auda said the woman managed to sneak into Goa and had again taken over her space at the Martyrs' Memorial since May 10. “Yesterday on 14th May, she rang the bell and tried to enter the house of a senior citizen woman while she was all alone in the house. Out of fear the senor citizen woman called OSC South Goa for help”, she added.
“When the OSC South Goa team left for Cuncolim bus stand, we did not find her at the bus stand, but her clothes were found drying on the Martyrs Memorial and her bag of belongings were kept at the corner in the Martyrs Memorial Park. We searched for her all over the place finally saw her at the Cuncolim stadium roaming around and young boys were watching her”, Auda said.
Saying the memorials and parks are not meant for anti-social activities, Auda has appealed to the
Municipalities and Panchayats to protect public places from becoming a habitat of disrespect to the Martyrs.
