MARGAO
Colva Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes, panch members and villagers on Tuesday cried foul as the Colva police served summons on them to appear before the police station in connection with the inquiry initiated in the demolition of the compound wall at Gandaulim on Saturday.
An enraged Colva sarpanch along with the panch members called on the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to draw his attention how sarpanchas and panchas were being harassed by the police when they attend to complaints lodged by the public.
“We have received summons to appear for an inquiry before the Colva police. I along with the panch members had gone to Gandaulim after the public had called us there complaining of some activity in the property despite the TCP’s stop-work order,” Sarpanch Anthony told the Panchayat Minister.
Panch Domingo also sought to know from the Minister how members will discharge their duties if police summon the sarpanch and panchas for inquiries.
They demanded to know whether the sarpanch and panchas have no powers to respond to the appeals made by the people.
Mauvin gave the delegation a patient hearing before directing the Salcete BDO A Shirodkar to conduct an inquiry and submit a report to him on the episode.
