PONDA
Angered with the panchas of Veling Priol Kuncoliem panchayat for allegedly demolishing the fence erected at controversial development of plots at Kuncoliem, the developer has accused the agitators of trying to extort money from him to stop the agitation.
The agitators have challenged the developer, Gopal Naik, to prove the allegations.
The panchas of Veling Priol Kuncoliem panchayat on Tuesday allegedly razed the gate, compound and also damaged the road in the plots. The land owner lodged a complaint against 32 persons, which involves also panchas, stating that he faced huge loss.
PSI Ajay Dhuri informed that the complaint was lodged late Tuesday evening and an offence was registered against all the 32 accused.
Developer Gopal Naik, called The Goan over the phone, and informed he will expose all the leaders leading the agitation as they have demanded money.
“I have all the recordings of the persons who tried to extort money from me to stop the ongoing agitation. They contacted me for money and their demand is increasing with each passing day. How do I tolerate these persons?” Naik asked.
Refuting the allegations, sarpanch Damodar Naik challenged Naik to prove the allegations. “If he has anything against us, then he should prove it,” he said.
Asked about the police complaint registered against them, he said: “The police had not taken any action against the illegal work on the pretext that they don’t know who was the land owner, but they registered the offence against us after the landlord's complaint,” he said.
When contacted, Adv Raju Mangeushkar said the people of Goa know him since the last 45 years, and added that his image is clean.
“Gopal Naik has spread the rumours that agitators are demanding money from him. The allegations are baseless. My record is clean and nobody can accuse me of demanding money,” Adv Mangeushkar said.
Another agitator, Ramkrishna Jalmi, said the developer has spread rumours of extortion and there is no credence to his allegations.
“The panchayat members and other leaders are fully with us and there is no chance that they will betray us,” Jalmi said.
