the goan I network
MARGAO
Panic spread amongst the residents of Xhiro ward of Carmona village as empty shells from naval firing landed in the residential areas on Tuesday evening.
The shells landed on residential houses, penetrating into the titled roofs as well as on the road, leaving the panic-stricken residents to knock the doors of the police for action. Their anxiety, however, was far from over. Hours after the residents returned home after visiting the Colva police station on Wednesday morning, another round of naval firing took place in the village during practice in the evening.
Says Rekha Da Costa, resident of Xhiro ward: “We were standing on the road on Tuesday evening when a couple of shells landed near us. We picked up a shell, and we could see smoke coming out. It was then we realised that naval firing was underway at the practice site and the shells have landed in the residential locality.”
When Rekha reached home, she found around 4-5 roof tiles damaged, with one shell landing inside the house and two outside. “My husband cannot walk nor hear and I am afraid that the shells could cause harm to the local residents,” she added.
A local resident, Francisco Da Costa echoed similar sentiments. “We are worried about our safety as the shells rained in on the residential locality yesterday. Some of the shells have landed on the residential houses, damaging them,” he said.
Francisco pointed out that they have all come to the
Colva police station to bring to the notice of the police of how the firing is posing danger to the local residents and whether anyone will assume responsibility in case of any untoward incident. “We want an answer from the authorities who will take responsibility if something bad happens to the local residents. Today, the shells have landed on the residential houses, tomorrow they might leave the residents injured,” he said, while demanding to know whether the authorities will take responsibility for any mishap.
Colva police station in-charge, PI Melson Colaco gave the delegation of Carmona residents a patient hearing and assured to take up the matter with the district Collector, South for addressing their concerns. “I have told the delegation to give their concerns in writing. I will discuss the matter with the police higher ups before forwarding the same to the district Collector, South for further action,” PI Colaco said.
The last time that the shells had landed in the residential areas of Xhiro ward of Carmona village was way back in the year 2011 following the naval firing practice. In 2011, a number of residential houses were damaged, with the empty shells damaging the roof tiles.
