PERNEM
Tension flared up at Morjim when a Delhi-based businessman who has bought land near the Chapora river at Bagwada-Morjim tried to block the traditional access leading to houses in the area on Friday.
Locals agitated at the site and some women later filed a complaint at the Pernem police station accusing the company's female bouncer of assaulting them.
According to reports, the businessman had bought the land 19 years ago and a local crematorium is located in the same area.
The company took the matter to court and some locals still conduct final rites there, prompting the company to file a complaint against them.
Locals claim the company had agreed to leave the traditional route for locals but on Friday, a truck offloaded stones and blocked the route.
Locals then confronted company officials and alleged that a female bouncer assaulted some local women. This sparked off further tension and a large crowd gathered at the site.
The Pernem PSI and his team as well as Morjim Sarpanch Vaishali Shetgaonkar and other panchas rushed to the site. Locals threatened not to leave the site and the route was later cleared for access to the houses.
Sarpanch Shetgaonkar assured locals that the panchayat would not grant a NOC to the project till the company resolves the issue with the locals.
"Company officials and the panchayat were supposed to meet on April 26. But this sudden action by the company is unwarranted," she said.
Meanwhile, those who were injured were taken to a nearby hospital for a medical checkup.
