the goan I network
MARGAO
A meeting of Velim villagers on Sunday has condemned the stabbing of Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva and Derrek Fernandes in the village on the last day of Carnival festivities, with speakers demanding that the Cuncolim police investigate the case thoroughly and ensure that the guilty gets the punishment as per the law.
The meeting resolved to go to the Cuncolim police station if the men in uniform are found wanting in investigating and taking the case to its logical conclusion. They demanded to know over the delay by the police to recover the knife used in the stabbing incident and demanded that the police record the statements of the witnesses who were present around when the sarpanch and Derrek were stabbed by the accused.
The meeting was addressed by local villagers as well as activists to condemn the stabbing, with locals saying the incident has shattered the peace which Velim village was known for. Even as the Cuncolim police has arrested three persons, all brothers in connection with stabbing incident for attempt to murder, speakers demanded to know whether the accused persons have been booked under the relevant provisions.
A speaker Avinash Martins told the people that Sarpanch Savio was not part of the Carnival celebrations, but was watching the traditional Mells along with others at the Velim road junction. He pointed out that the sarpanch was attacked after he intervened to make way for a car transporting a patient to the hospital. “The car carrying the patient could not move since the road was blocked by the Mell (procession). Savio tried to intervene to make way for the car. Soon, he came back running with stab injuries on his chest. I took a bleeding Savio in my car to the hospital. We were later told that Derrek was also stabbed on his back and stomach by the accused persons,” he said.
Former Ambelim sarpanch Cruz Silva said the stabbing incident does not augur well for the traditional Carnival festivities in the future. “Such incidents will come in the way of these traditional festivities in the future. Parents will not send their children to participate in the traditional Mells because of such incidents,” Cruz said.
While condemning the stabbing incident, activists Avinash Tavares and Domnick Noronha said the police should thoroughly investigate the case. They pointed out that stabbing incident has taken on the village sarpanch, who was trying to make way for a vehicle on the road.
A villager Vinay Tari later told the media that the meeting was not only called to condemn the stabbing incident but to demand proper investigation of the case. He said the people have also resolved to go to the Cuncolim police station to ascertain the status of investigations.
