MARGAO
Tension rent the air at Sonsodo on Wednesday noon as hundreds of residents of Borda and neighbouring villages of Raia and Maina descended on the site to oppose the government’s plan to construct the proposed kabrastan for the Muslim community.
Angry residents scuttled the demarcation of the boundaries ordered by the district collector and confronted the leader of the Muslim community Abdulmatin Carol, demanding to know why attempts are being made to interfere with the adjoining Christian community cemetery. Carol told the protestors that the Muslims were not interested with the acquired land in question, having opposed the site in the past because of the steep gradient, but hastened to add that the government has forcefully acquired the land before being handing the same to the Muslim community. Carol was also confronted by the protestors over his purported remark threatening to teach the people opposing the kabrastan by hiring goons from Housing Board, but he denied having ever threatened anyone.
He said if there’s objection to the kabrastan at Sonsodo, the authorities and those opposing the proposal should provide an alternate land for the
burial grounds.
The huge crowd comprising men and women assembled near the Christian cemetery with placards objecting to the proposed kabrastan. They pointed out that the burial ground will not only destroy the hillock given its steep gradient, but will also vitiate the peace prevailing amongst the Christian and Muslim community in future.
No sooner the field officer, Land Survey Prabhugaonkar arrived at the spot with strong police protection, the agitated confronted him saying they will not allow the demarcation until the government authorities reply to the memorandum signed by 3000-plus residents opposing the project.
They also accused the survey team of trespassing into the cemetery by entering the place without the prior permission of the Catholic authorities. Margao PI C L Patil led a huge posse of policemen, including a bus load of lady constables at the site as a
precautionary measure.
With the agitated residents opposing the demarcation tooth and nail, the exercise was finally called off after the arrival of Salcete Mamlatdar Vishal Kundaikar, who later told the media that he would file a report to the district Collector on the circumstances leading to the decision to call of
the exercise.
