MONDAY, JULY 01, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The news of Assagao house owner Prinsha Agarwadekar and her family’s compromise with land owner Pooja Sharma, has left the activists and lawyers in the State, peeved.
Activist Rama Kankonkar said, “Chief Minister said that whoever is involved will be arrested. This holds a value. CM speaks after getting information from the DGP. He cannot speak lightly. He should honour his words and arrest those involved. It appears that compromise is happening after getting money. This is not new. There are many incidents where compromises have taken place. We are in fear now. It is going to be very difficult for us.”
Walter Lobo, activist from Calangute said, “We do not know what the compromise is made. The case cannot be withdrawn because this is open dadagiri by one high ranking officer. Kidnapping is involved. What is happening in this State? When you have a house number and you have electricity bills then we do not care who bought the house, who paid money and why the papers were not made."
Activist Xencor Polgi said, "It has set a bad precedent. Tomorrow somebody will commit murder, say sorry and compromise and the accused will be free. It should not happen like this. All the officers and the bouncers who took law into their hand should be taught a lesson. On what ground the case will be withdrawn and the accused will be set free? Somebody's house has been demolished. It is a big crime. It is like murder. People take lot of pain to construct a house. We went to the site because an outsider had demolished house of a Goan. I want to tell the Chief Minister that still Siddhi Naik has not got justice. The way crime rate has increased this will set a bad example. If this continues then in future nobody will come to anybody's rescue even if murder takes place."
Activist Tanoj Adwalpalkar, "This proves that now anyone can come and demolish anybody's house. It is certain and clear to all the public at large. Anybody feels hurts when his house, whether it is big or small, is demolished. Now in this case, even the local MLA said that those who are involved must be arrested.”
“But what appears that it is okay if somebody commits murder and says sorry. Should we let somebody go who says sorry after demolishing a house. I do not think this proper. First of all the person responsible for the demolition should be arrested. The law should be same for all. The main culprit should be arrested,” Adwalpalkar said.
“There is no meaning in arresting a middle man. When the owner of the house says that he is ready to withdraw the complaint it may also mean there is a fear that house owner's children may be attacked tomorrow because even the government is with the culprits. I think the family has been forced to arrive at an amicable solution by instilling fear in them,” Adwalpalkar added.
Rajan Ghate said, "We need to know why the family has gone for compromise. There may be pressure for compromise also as many big people are involved in the episode. Now even two-three police personnel too have been suspended.”
Siolim Block Congress Committee president Parvati Nagvenkar said, “I do not know why Agarwadekar family suddenly decided to compromise with the land owner. I will speak to the family first.”
Assagao sarpanch, Hanumant Naik said, “Nobody indulged in politics in this issue. Chief Minister assured the Agarwadekar family to build the house. Stability check was conducted. Till then they remained silent. Yesterday Mrs Agarwadekar thanked everybody and expressed gratitude to everybody. But what happened overnight?"
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) vice president Valmiki Naik, said, “A non-Goan builder took kelp of the police and carried out the demolition. Definitely there was some collusion between the authorities and the builder. Any powerful lobby doing any illegality will always seek patronage of both – the police patronage and the government.”
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant did not reach the spot for two days. But his statement gives enough scope for suspicion of the government’s role in the entire episode. Sawant declared that the government will build the house and recover the cost from the builder. This is a vague statement since it is not a civil issue and IPC sections are involved. Chief Minister has not taken any action against a bungalow built at Old Goa,” Naik said.
Heads roll: Anjuna PI and 2 PSIs suspended
PANJIM: Anjuna PI Prashal Naik Dessai and PSIs Sanket Pokhare and Nitin Naik were placed under suspension pending inquiry for dereliction of duties in the Assagao house demolition case.
A video going viral on social media shows that on the day of demolition, PSI Sanket Pokhare was moving around in civil clothes and hobnobbing with the bouncers but did nothing to stop the demolition nor did he detain the bouncers.
The action has been initiated based on the inquiry report submitted by the Chief Secretary.PSI Nitin Naik was a probationary police officer.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer stated that a IPS officer is also under scanner and the three suspended officers had followed his diktats and refused to stay the demolition.
Two bouncers from Mormugao taluka arrested
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch police arrested two bouncers in Assagao house demolition case.
SP (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta, IPS, said that both the bouncers were present at the spot and were part of mob that tried to demolish the house on June 22.
The police gave the name of the accused as Mohamed Imran Salmani, 34 from Cortalim and Azim Kadar Shaikh, 34 from Vasco. The Crime Branch had earlier arrested Ashfak Kadir Sheikh, 40 of Mangor Hill, Vasco, for providing a vehicle to the main accused for commission of the crime.
The Crime Branch police have added more sections of IPC, while, a four-member SIT headed by DySP Rajesh Kumar with PI Ninad Deulkar, PI Laxi Amonkar and PI Vikas Deykar under supervision of SP (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta, has been formed.
