Oppn trains guns on Sawant after shooting

Panaji: The fatal shooting at Curchorem where a labourer was killed gave the opposition another opportunity to put chief minister Pramod Sawant in the cross hairs. GFP and Congress said that Goa’s law and order situation is deteriorating.
The parties were reacting after unidentified persons fired at three labourers who were extracting sand. One person was killed, one injured, while the third person had a narrow escape.
“BJP is turning Goa into a lawless state,” said state Congress chief Amit Patkar. “Curchorem is turning into Bihar.”
Cuncolim Congress MLA Yuri Alemao said that the “irresponsible attitude” of the BJP government has emboldened criminals to indulge in crimes in broad daylight. Alemao, the party’s working president, said that by “becoming puppets of the government” Goa police has lost its credibility.
Sawant has come under fire ever since the alleged murder of Haryana Tik Tok star Sonali Phogat and police investigations indicating that party drug MDMA was used by the perpetrators. With Phogat’s family accusing Goa police of incompetence and a shoddy investigation, the shooting at Curchorem once again raises question marks over safety in the state.
“When will it occur to the chief minister what’s obvious to the whole world? Not only has he put himself under a cloud with his suspicious conduct, he’s also brought disgrace to Goa and Goans,” said GFP chief Vijai Sardesai.
GFP has reiterated its demand that Sawant should step down as home minister.
“There is complete failure of law and order in the state. Drugs, Siddhi Naik’s murder, Sonali Phogat’s murder and now gunshots being fired,” said GFP general secretary Durgadas Kamat.
“Illegal sand extraction is running at the behest of environment minister Nilesh Cabral in his own constituency. I demand that the chief minister to immediately stop illegal mining and arrest the culprits,” said Patkar.