MARGAO/PONDA
City-based lawyer Adv Rajiv Gomes on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Fatorda police demanding effective and swift action against the fish mafia to ensure that fish sold in the future will be free from formalin.
In his complaint, Adv Gomes urged the police to unearth by whom, when and where the criminal conspiracy was hatched to preserve fish by adding formalin and also interrogate M Ibrahim.
The complainant has demanded that the police arrest and interrogate the wholesale fish agents/operators of the 17 trucks who imported the formalin-laced fish into Goa and all others who abetted and aided the commission of the offense. “Identify the place where the formalin was made and added to the fish or the ice in which the fish was preserved. Identify the source of the chemical/formalin used in the preservation,” he added.
Saying there is a possibility that the formalin-laced fish will be sold in the Goan fish markets again after the ban is lifted, Adv Gomes called upon the police to initiate strict action in the matter at the earliest to detect and stop the illegal activity.
In Ponda, Congress youth leader Varadh Mardolkar along with other members submitted a complaint to Ponda Police Inspector Harish Madkaikar seeking probe and action in the matter. Urmila Naik, Ahraj Mulla and other Congress leaders were present on the occasion.
“This complaint is against those supplying formalin-laced fish to the Margao fish market and from there to the other markets across Goa. This fish is brought from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Orissa,” the complaint states.
“Fish vendors from Ponda, Mardol, Kundaim and Marcela bring fish from the wholesale market at Margao. If fish is found to be mixed with formalin, it should be seized at Margao itself and disposed off. I’m surprised that fish seized in Margao was not disposed.”
Mardolkar added that the police should support the FDA and other agencies concerned to curb these activities.
