PANAJI
The government-appointed fact-finding committee has reportedly indicted former North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal and former North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte in the Shirgao Zatra stampede but with findings not made public yet, there have been speculations on possible attempts to dilute its recommendations.
Senior government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said lobbying is underway to allegedly convince Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to soften the report’s conclusions as it could tarnish the annual performance reports of several officials involved in the matter.
The CMO on Friday had issued a statement that it was examining the findings and Chief Minister Sawant will make a formal statement after the review.
While CM’s statement on the report’s findings is awaited, the fact-finding committee members had conducted multiple visits to the stampede site, met the affected families including those injured and recorded statements of Gitte, Kaushal, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi, and Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, who was transferred from their respective positions soon after the tragedy. Temple committee members and Dhonds among others were also made a part of the inquiry.
To the delay in releasing the report, Goa Forward Party’s North Goa District General Secretary Santosh Kumar Sawant accused the government of attempting to “hush up” the inquiry to shield those responsible.
“Why is the stampede report not made public. Is it that attempts are made to change the report as it identifies a Senior District Administration Officer and a Senior Police Officer who are well connected through their spouses in State Administration,” he questioned.
The GFP also questioned claims on the deployment of the drone at the festival site. “Or is this part of a brazen cover-up that denies justice to the innocent lives lost and those still fighting for survival at GMC?” he asked.
He called on the CM to act on his earlier promise of strict action and demanded that accountability be fixed without delay.
