MARGAO
The Maina-Curtorim police have registered a case against Raia Sarpanch Esmeralda Gomes under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after a resident of Manora-Raia claimed that the sarpanch insulted him by referring him to his caste.
Sarpanch Esmeralda has vehemently denied the allegations, terming them as baseless and false.
Maina-Curtorim police station in-charge, PI Pravin Kumar Vast, said the police have registered the case against the sarpanch following a complaint lodged by one Anthony Barbosa, a resident of Manora-Raia, alleging that the sarpanch insulted him by referring to his ST status.
PI Vast said the case will now be forwarded to the DySP, Margao, for further investigation. In his complaint, Anthony said that the alleged incident took place at the Village Development Committee (VDC) meeting held at the panchayat, which had its focus on group discussions with SC, ST & OBCs. “I had attended the meeting as an ST member. The incident occurred when I questioned the sarpanch as to where is the panch member representing ward 4, who belongs to the ST. At this stage, the sarpanch allegedly insulted me by referring to my caste,” he alleged.
Sarpanch Esmeralda, however, denied the allegations raised by Anthony, terming them as false, baseless and malicious.
