the goan I network
VALPOI
Valpoi police on Saturday convened a meeting of members from various communities in Valpoi, to work out ways to maintain peace which was disturbed due to installation of Shivaji statue at Hathwada junction in Valpoi, on the eve of Shiv Jayanti celebrations.
Addressing the meeting at the Valpoi police station, Valpoi PI Deepak Pednekar said the issue had been blown out of proportion due to a misunderstanding and due to exaggeration of facts.
“Rumours spread like wildfire that banners containing Shivaji’s photo were torn, while some antisocial elements tried to exaggerate the fact by claiming that banners were burnt.”
“In fact, there was no photo of Shivaji on the banners that were found torn and the banners were not burnt at all,” clarified PI Pednekar.
Members from different communities in Valpoi condemned the rioting case reported on the eve of Shiv Jayanti at Hathwada junction, when a mob controversially installed a Shivaji statue at Hathwada junction in Valpoi.
A complaint was later filed by a resident of Hathwada stating that unknown persons had destroyed his property on the same day.
Insisting that people from all communities have lived in harmony in Valpoi, the members requested the police to act tough against those anti-social elements that try to disturb the peace of Valpoi.
PI Pednekar informed the gathering that the Shiv Jayanti Samiti (SJS) had maintained that it had not installed the statue at Hathwada, but claimed that the statue was installed by Shivaji lovers.
PI Pednekar further informed that Valpoi Municipal Council was the authority to take action, if the statue is installed without permission and added that police would give full protection to VMC officials, if VMC initiates action against the illegal installation.
