MAPUSA
Ten days after the assault on Dr Inacio Fernandes, a vocal advocate for strict noise pollution norms, the Anjuna Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the attack.
One of the arrested accused, Gajanan Tilve, was caught on video charging at and hitting Dr Fernandes during the heated gram sabha held at the Anjuna panchayat hall on November 24.
Another accused, Calisto Fernandes, was also taken into custody.
The attack occurred in the presence of police officers during a gram sabha discussion, where Dr Fernandes raised concerns about adherence to noise pollution regulations.
His call for compliance reportedly sparked anger among several villagers, who accused him of attempting to restrict music after 7 pm and harming the local tourism business.
Following the assault, Dr Fernandes filed a police complaint naming five individuals as his attackers.
Anjuna Police registered both a primary complaint by Dr Fernandes and a counter-complaint linked to the incident.
The arrest of Tilve and Calisto comes amid growing concern over the incident, which has been widely condemned as an act of intimidation against a citizen advocating for environmental and community well-being.
Police investigations are ongoing to determine the roles of other individuals named in the complaint.
The incident has also reignited debates about balancing tourism interests with the need to uphold environmental laws and the rights of local residents.
