Bizmen requested to down shutters on March 31
the goan I network
CANACONA
Addressing media persons, convenor of the recently formed ‘Zagruth Cankonkar’ and Chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Prathana Naik Gaunkar said a meeting to condemn the incident has been convened at Gaitonde Grounds, Chaudi, at 10 am.
“We request all the businessmen to shut down their business activities for half-day and attend the meet. We are fully with the victim’s family and want immediate action against the perpetrators,” said Naik Gaunkar and added ‘that she was a foreign woman will not dilute our concern. She is a woman and I request all the women to come out to attend the meeting to show solidarity with the family of the victim and concern for the society’.
Social activist Sandesh Telekar said, “On February 28, concerned Canacona residents had mentioned to the Collector (South) about increasing anti-social activities and had clearly mentioned the name of the accused, prior to the rape and murder of the British-Irish woman. We had even demanded action, but barely two weeks later, he was accused in such a heinous crime.” “We suspect some one is directly involved in protecting the accused and we ask the government to investigate this serious issue,” Telekar demanded.
The NGO Goenkar President Jack Fernandes also ridiculed authorities for making insufficient efforts to curb anti-social activities, even though people had held several interactions with the collector, deputy collector, SP and DySP, bringing it to their notice the drug peddling and other related nuisances in the taluka.
“The police is doing their part to some extent, but even their report demanding the externment of the accused was not acted upon by authorities,” said Fernandes.
Others who also spoke included Deputy Chairperson Samita Dhuri, social activists Shantaji Naik Gaunkar and Councillor Divaker Pagui.
Councillor Shamsunder Desai, former CMC chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar, Suraj Naik Gaunkar and others were also present at the news conference.
