the goan I network
PERNEM
Residents of Ugvem-Pernem on Sunday carried out a protest rally to Pernem Police Station demanding the arrest of the accused, who allegedly assaulted a local from Ugvem.
The residents also demanded that the government shut down sand extraction activity and remove non-Goan dwellers involved in the sand business from the state and threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met.
It may be recalled that a group of sand extractors had kidnapped a local, Prabhak
PERNEM
Residents of Ugvem-Pernem on Sunday carried out a protest rally to Pernem Police Station demanding the arrest of the accused, who allegedly assaulted a local from Ugvem.
The residents also demanded that the government shut down sand extraction activity and remove non-Goan dwellers involved in the sand business from the state and threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met.
It may be recalled that a group of sand extractors had kidnapped a local, Prabhak
ar Mahale when he went for a walk along with his two friends at Ugvem railway bridge. The group took Mahale to Poraskade in their vehicle and assaulted him, but fearing that he would succumb to injuries, shifted him to Tuem hospital, while his two friends rushed back to Ugvem and narrated the incident to the villagers. Expressing outrage over the assault, the residents blocked NH17 demanding arrest of the culprits.
On Sunday, the residents of Ugvem convened a meeting at Mauli Temple to decide the future course of action - it was unanimously decided to carry out a protest rally to Pernem Police Station.
As the most of the police force was deployed at polling booths for the panchayat elections in Pernem taluka, Pernem police immediately called police from other police stations and also called the police who were off duty.
Former Ugvem sarpanch Shashikant Mahale said the residents of Ugvem never took the law in their own hands and the government and police should not force them to do so.
"About 40 people from outside are engaged in sand extraction and if our demands are not met, then our population of 800 won't hesitate to take further action," threatened Mahale demanding the cops put the culprits behind bars as soon as possible.
Another former sarpanch Vinayak Mahale said: "We are against illegal sand extraction. The government should take this issue seriously and give justice to the villagers."
Later, a small delegation went into the police station to discuss the issue with Pernem PI Sandesh Chodankar.
The situation worsened after media persons at the site were stopped by the police and told not to cover the meeting, which made the residents even more furious.
Later, PI Chodankar told the irate residents that an offence has been registered against the assailants and they would be arrested soon. "This might take time as our police force is deployed at panchayat elections in Pernem and we do not have enough manpower," he said.
On Sunday, the residents of Ugvem convened a meeting at Mauli Temple to decide the future course of action - it was unanimously decided to carry out a protest rally to Pernem Police Station.
As the most of the police force was deployed at polling booths for the panchayat elections in Pernem taluka, Pernem police immediately called police from other police stations and also called the police who were off duty.
Former Ugvem sarpanch Shashikant Mahale said the residents of Ugvem never took the law in their own hands and the government and police should not force them to do so.
"About 40 people from outside are engaged in sand extraction and if our demands are not met, then our population of 800 won't hesitate to take further action," threatened Mahale demanding the cops put the culprits behind bars as soon as possible.
Another former sarpanch Vinayak Mahale said: "We are against illegal sand extraction. The government should take this issue seriously and give justice to the villagers."
Later, a small delegation went into the police station to discuss the issue with Pernem PI Sandesh Chodankar.
The situation worsened after media persons at the site were stopped by the police and told not to cover the meeting, which made the residents even more furious.
Later, PI Chodankar told the irate residents that an offence has been registered against the assailants and they would be arrested soon. "This might take time as our police force is deployed at panchayat elections in Pernem and we do not have enough manpower," he said.
