OLD GOA
It may sound unrealistic about the threat posed by senior citizens vis-Ã -vis law and order situation.
However in Bhoma, that seems to be the exact case as four senior citizens have also been issued notices under Section 107 CrPC for agitating against the road-widening project.
The four senior citizens to have received the notices include Putu Gaude (71), Atchut Naik (66), Suresh Gaude (68) and Krishnanath Bhomkar (70).
Now, the question that is troubling the Bhomkars is whether these senior citizens are capable of indulging in “violent activities thereby committing breach of peace and disturbing public tranquillity,” as stated in the notice.
Bhoma leader Sanjay Naik expressed surprise that these senior citizens are being seen as a threat to law and order.
“A senior citizen is called as such as they are unable to take care of themselves and more often than not, have to rely on others,” Naik stated.
“But in Bhoma, these senior citizens are labelled as a threat to the society, which goes to show that the government will go to any length to suppress the Bhoma movement,” Naik informed but forewarned that their agitation will continue till their last breath.
On their part, the senior citizens have questioned how they are going to pay Rs 10,000 as bond, as is being said in the notice.
“I rely on the Rs 2,000 dole received from the government for my medical expenses. So, how am I supposed to pay Rs 10,000 as bond?” Putu Gaude questioned.
Krishnanath Bhomkar also said that it is difficult for him to pay for the medical expenses as he is a heart patient and has to take 7 pills on a daily basis. “On top of that, my wife is a cancer patient,” Bhomkar pointed out.
Further, the senior citizens questioned how only 22 residents of Bhoma received the notices when three bus-loads of people, including the sarpanch and a panch, were detained.
Meanwhile, leader Sanjay Naik has said that they will fight a legal battle over the notices issued.
“We have no option but to fight a legal battle against the government and we are prepared for it,” Naik informed.
On the other hand, the Bhoma women remained unperturbed by the notices sent to the men.
“By sending notices to the men, the movement will not be affected. We are going to spearhead the movement and the only way the government can go ahead with the project is over our dead bodies,” a senior woman informed The Goan.
Give orders to shoot us to make job easy: Bhoma youth
OLD GOA: Frustrated by the notices sent to him and 21 other Bhomkars for agitating against the road widening project, a Bhoma youth Rajan Naik has suggested that the government should now issue shoot-out orders against them to make their job easier.
“What did we do wrong to receive such notices? Did we manhandle the authorities? Did we attack them? No. On the contrary, we were just asking them to show us the alignment of the road and tell us how many structures are going to be demolished,” Naik stated.
“But, instead of providing answers to our queries they went ahead with the survey, and our objection to the same is being labelled as a threat to security,” Naik opined and sought to know if they cannot even question authorities on a project which is detrimental for the village.
“Therefore, I urge the government to issue shoot-out orders against Bhomkars. At least, we will die as martyrs and not have to live to see the destruction of the village,” Naik informed.
