the goan I network
MAPUSA
Former Tivim sarpanch Premnath Maulingkar said his arrest was politically motivated and an attempt to silence him.
Maulingkar, who owns a fair price shop in Tivim, was apprehended on Wednesday on charges of assaulting a ration-card holder, Benedito D’Souza.
“The ration card holder who is the complainant is a supporter and a volunteer appointed by the local MLA, who has recently switched sides and is with BJP now,” Maulingkar said.
Narrating his side of the story, the former sarpanch said around 100-150 people were standing in a queue to take ration on the day of the incident.
“The complainant instead of queuing up came inside the shop and started arguing with me stating that he was denied the quota of free rice,” Maulingkar claimed. He further claimed that when he tried to explain to him (complainant), he menacingly came charging towards him.
He also said that he has received 13 tonnes of rice which he was distributing systematically by taking all precautions like social distancing.
