Reis Magos panch assaulted

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-06
PANAJI - In a heinous assault, a Reis Magos village panchayat panch, Mr Francisco Serrao was brutally assaulted by three masked men at Candolim early Thursday morning.
In the complaint filed with the Calangute police station, Mr Serrao named the Calangute MLA, Mr Agnelo Fernandes, Mr Francis Colaco and one Pitush of having assaulted him.
The police FIR states that a case has been registered against four masked occupants of a Zen car (number partially given-G-1920) under Sections 341, 326 R/W 34. The FIR also named as suspects Mr Agnelo Fernandes (MLA), Mr Francis Colaco and Pitush.
According to the FIR, four occupants of the Zen car overtook the complainant who was proceeding on his Dio scooter towards St Threza School, Candolim, wrongfully restrained him and three of them assaulted him with iron rods causing grevious injuries on hand and legs. Mr Serrao fractured his right leg in the incident.
The FIR claims that the motive behind the attack was the fact that the victim was supporting the ruling faction of the Reis Magos panchayat. It also says that the complainant had previously filed a complaint against the three at the Porvorim police station.
Meanwhile, the deputy sarpanch, Mr Virendra Shirodkar, addressing the media at the GMC, accused Mr Agnelo Fernandes of being the mastermind behind the attack. He alleged that this was because a casino jetty licence given to the previous sarpanch, allegedly a supporter of the MLA, had been revoked by the present group and demolition notices issued by the panchayat to structures on survey number 99/1.
The deputy sarpanch also told ‘The Navhind Times’ later on that they would boycott any function of the MLA in Verem and also give a representation to the Congress not to give him ticket for the next Assembly elections. Mr Serrao was operated upon and is recuperating in the GMC trauma unit.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik informed the House on Thursday that he has directed the Superintendent of Police (North), Mr Bosco George to inquire into the attack on a member of the Reis Magos village panchayat, Mr Francis Serrao.
Mr Serrao was assaulted with iron rod Thursday morning by four masked men and has been admitted in the Goa Medical College hospital at Bambolim.
Meanwhile, the Saligao MLA, Mr Dilip Parulekar, during a Zero Hour mention stated that Goa, especially the beach belt area of Calangute-Candolim was proceeding to become a crime region like the state of Bihar. Questioning the safety of public representatives in Goa, Mr Parulekar hinted at the involvement of the local MLA in the attack.
The Calangute MLA, Mr Agnelo offering to face any inquiry as regards the assault on the panchayat member, alleged that the panchayat members of the Reis Magos village panchayat were on a spree of extortion and intimidation and the attack on Mr Serrao could be a repercussion of the same.
Speaking further, the Calangute MLA charged the members of the Reis Magos village panchayat of visiting the department of town planning as well as the public works department and demanding various licences. “These people are also involved in flesh trade in the Porvorim area,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Transport, Mr Ramakrishna Dhavalikar said that he himself had to face threats and abusive language from a person in his chamber, recently. “I did not lodge a complaint with the police as I very well knew that nothing would materialise out of the complaint,” he stated, pointing out that the law and order situation in the state has failed at all levels.
The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar said that a minister in the state cabinet complaining about the law and order situation in Goa makes the seriousness of the problem known to one and all.
Meanwhile, the sarpanch of the Reis Magos village panchayat, Ms Sushmita Pednekar, her deputy, Mr Virendra Shirodkar and five other panchayat members have lodged a written complaint with the Porvorim police station regarding threat to their lives, properties as well as that to their families.
The complainants have also requested for adequate police protection and appropriate action as required by law. “The complainants hereby request your good self again not to ignore the present complaint as done in the previous instant,” the complaint said.