PANAJI
The government on Saturday ordered a magisterial inquiry, constituted a high-powered fact-finding committee and transferred five senior officers including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police, over alleged lapses in crowd management at the Lairai Devi zatra.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who chaired a high-level meeting at the official residence Altinho, announced that the inquiry committee will be led by Revenue Secretary Sandip Jacques. The panel, directed to submit the report within 48 hours, also comprises members -- Deputy Inspector General of Police Varsha Sharma, Transport Director Pravimal Abhishek, and South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma.
“This kind of incident has never occurred before during the zatra, which is held every year. We must find out who was responsible. The team will gather information on-site, speak to the people as well as officers who were on duty, and submit a detailed report. Appropriate action will be taken accordingly,” Sawant told reporters after the meeting.
Sawant, in the presence of Chief Secretary V Candavelou, DGP Alok Kumar and other top brass, also directed the immediate transfer of North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte, North SP Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, SDPO Bicholim Jivba Dalvi and PI Bicholim Dinesh Gadekar.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede...I visited the hospital to meet the injured and assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken,” Sawant, visibly shaken by the incident, said.
He praised the swift response of emergency teams who attended to the victims. “Doctors at GMC, Asilo, and CHCs moved fast. ICUs were set up for the critically injured. Their timely action must be appreciated,” he said.
The SP North and other officials involved have been asked to submit individual reports to the government for a broader analysis of the alleged failure that led to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, later in the evening the fact finding team visited the site to ascertain the exact cause of the stampede with the transferred officers also accompanying them.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE
Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta has been given the additional charge of the North district while Fisheries Director Yashaswini B is given the charge of the North Collectorate.
In a late night order, the government sent SP Akshat Kaushal to the State Police Control Room while shunted Sneha Gitte (IAS) to the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management.
DySP Mapusa Wilson D'Souza to hold additional charge of Bicholim; PI Vijay Rane to hold Bicholim PS charge. Outgoing Bicholim DySP Jivba Dalvi and PI Dinesh Gadekar yet to be given new charge.
