VALPOI
Hundreds of people marched to the Valpoi police station on Thursday evening to demand the immediate withdrawal of cases filed against 37 persons linked to group clashes over the rights to perform rituals at a temple in Poriem.
The protesters sat outside the police station, and Police Inspector Videsh Shirodkar tried to pacify the people, but they refused to leave the premises and demanded a written assurance to them about the withdrawal of the cases.
Taking serious note of the situation, Poriem MLA Dr Deviya Rane spoke to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and sought his intervention in the matter.
Sawant decided to convene a special meeting with a delegation of agitators at the Assembly complex on Friday at 12 pm. Satisfied with this assurance, the protestors dispersed from the Valpoi police station at around 7 pm.
According to sources, a dispute had arisen about six months ago regarding the conduct of rituals at a temple in Poriem. One group had conducted the rituals at the temple early in the morning, which angered the other group, and this led to clashes between the two groups.
Several people were assaulted in the incident, and stones were also pelted at a police force, which rushed to the site. The protestors had also blocked the Goa-Belagavi road for some time.
The Valpoi police had registered cases against 37 persons, and a charge sheet had been filed in court. The first hearing in the matter was fixed on Friday, and summons had been sent to 37 people in this connection, causing anger among people.
Speaking to reporters, the aggrieved villagers claimed that when the tense situation had arisen around the temple, hundreds of people were present, and yet, police had booked cases only against 37 persons.
