MARGAO
Setting up of a peace committee, slapping chapter cases against the accused involved in the Rumdamol Housing Board clashes are amongst the host of measures initiated by the district police and authorities in a bid to bring peace and amity in the communally sensitive housing board and in neighbouring Margao.
On a day when the district police chief, SP Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS, and SDM Jyoti Kumari, IAS and P Volvoikar had separate meetings with members of religious communities and organizations, the administration has sent a message loud and clear “ maintain peace and amity or else the administration will come down heavily on the trouble makers.
While SP Pankaj had a joint meeting with members of Hindu and Muslim communities around noon, SDM Jyoti Kumari had two separate meetings, one with a delegation led by President of Shree Swami Samarth Gad Temple and the other with members of the Popular Front of India.
At all the meetings, the district police and the SDM conveyed the same message, maintain peace and communal amity and cooperate with the law-enforcing agencies to crack a whip against the trouble makers.
SP Pankaj spoke tough, “We have initiated steps by involving members of the religious communities to ensure they live in peace and amity. At the same time, those who are fomenting trouble, including those instigating the people, will be dealt with firmly.”
Making a fervent plea to the people in general not to believe in rumours, the district police chief urged the people to contact him or the DySP or the police instead.
After the meeting, BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar said members of both communities have given suggestions on how to maintain peace and amity, even as he complimented the police and the administration for effective handling of the communal tensions. “Diwali is fast approaching. Let us all celebrate the festival of lights. There should be no misunderstandings,” he said.
Sharmad also warned, “There may be some persons out to instigate the people and blame the government in view of the elections. We have to remain alert.”
Urfan Mulla said the meeting called by the SP South has sent a message to both Hindus and Muslims. “I have told a member of the RSS that Muslims will be the first to condemn anyone working against the country. We will all come together to protect our country. We believe in the country first”, he said, adding that the district police chief has been told to rein in on the trouble makers with a heavy hand.
Davorlim ZP member, Ulhas Tuemkar, Satyavijai Naik, Aslam Sheikh, Riyaz Sheikh, Bobby, besides members of the Rumdamol Masjid committee participated in the deliberations.
