MAPUSA
Calangute panchayat secretary Arjun Velip who had signed the resolution to remove the Shivaji statue has been shunted out of Calangute village panchayat.
The State government in an order has transferred Velip to Dharbandora.
Meanwhile, Candolim panchayat secretary Bharat Gawas has been given additional charge of the Calangute village panchayat.
Sources informed that the transfer order of Velip was issued on June 20 the day when a mob of Shiv Premis stormed the Calangute village panchayat in protest against the notice to remove the statue of Shivaji.
The group gheraoed the village panchayat for almost six hours and ended the protest only after Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira withdrew the notice and apologised.
Earlier, a resolution unanimously passed by the panchayat had said the installation statue was “illegal”.
Velip's transfer is perceived as a punishment posting.
