MARGAO
Margao Municipal Council’s ongoing anti-encroachment drive was marred by an ugly incident on Friday when a trader made an abortive bid to immolate himself right outside the chamber of Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik.
The trader Kantilal Lohar (31) is now cooling his heels in the Margao police lock-up after the police arrested him for obstructing a government servant from discharging his lawful duties.
The immolation incident occurred on Friday morning when the trader, apparently agitated over the action initiated by Chief Officer for confiscating his goods, came rushing to the municipal building with a bottle of kerosene.
Eye witnesses said the trader poured the kerosene on his body when the Chief Officer had come out of his cabin. Sources said that kerosene also landed on the Chief Officer. Lohar, however, could not set himself on fire as an alert worker snatched the matchbox from his hand.
Lohar later told the media that he had decided to take the drastic step alleging harassment at the hands of the Chief Officer and his team of workers. He pointed out that the municipal workers had confiscated his goods displayed outside his shop at Arlem and he had paid a fine of Rs 14,000 to get back the same. He claimed that the municipal team made its presence felt at his shop as early as 10 am and confiscated goods which were stored inside the shop, a charge flatly denied by the CO.
In fact, the Chief Officer claimed that the trader has been a habitual offender as evident by the fact that the municipality has confiscated a truck load of goods from his shop, consisting of plastic chairs and other items.
Margao PI said Lohar has been arrested for obstructing a government servant from discharging his duties based on a complaint lodged by the Chief Officer.
He was still in the custody of Margao police till late Friday evening.
