the goan I network
OLD GOA
Around 300 residents, including women and children, of the Gondhali community staged a morcha in protest against the attack on one of its members by two history sheeters from Merces, on Tuesday.
The protest rally started from Voilem Bhat, where a majority of the community members dwell, and wended its way through the village, before finally culminating at the Merces panchayat office, where community leaders submitted a memorandum to the sarpanch with their list of demands.
Along the way, the community held a brief dharna outside a bar and restaurant where the incident took place.
It may be recalled that Vinod Waghmode, a scrapyard owner, was allegedly attacked by history-sheeters, Suraj Shetye and Vishal Golatkar, and threatened with dire consequences, if he did not pay protection money of Rs 50,000. Later on a complaint by Waghmode, Old Goa police arrested the two accused and they are currently in police lockup.
Among the demands of the Gondhali community include setting up of a police outpost in Merces to curb goondagiri and increased protection to the community.
Law needed to declare anti-social
elements as terrorists: Sarpanch
OLD GOA: Condemning the incident, Merces Sarpanch Pranita Kalangutkar said such anti-social activities are done to seek attention and to extort money, which in very unfortunate when today almost everybody is self-sufficient in a State like Goa.
“It is high time the government comes out with a law to categorise such anti-social elements as terrorists, as they are spreading terror in the community. Strict action should be taken by police and the government machinery to curb such attacks in the future,” said Kalangutkar.
“If anybody gets angry, they should be taught to channelise their anger for a better cause and not to cause hurt to a fellow human being. I humbly appeal to the people to learn to have respect for fellow human beings,” she added.
Appreciating the people who have held the rally, Kalangutkar stated that cooperation from the public is important to curb goondagiri in the village.
She also hit out at some leaders for misguiding the people and directing them towards a negative path.
Former sarpanch Prakash Naik questioned how these history sheeters can get bail in court when they are involved in many cases. “A politician in Vaddy-Merces is backing these history-sheeters and getting them bailed out from the court. The government should conduct thorough inquiry into the funding of these history-sheeters and punish those who are backing them,” Naik demanded.
Further, Naik said the root of all problems is a bar and restaurant, where all anti-social activities are undertaken.
