Agitators disperse only after sarpanch’s apology
Mapusa: Tension prevailed outside the Calangute village panchayat building on Tuesday over the issue of removal of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which has been installed on the Saligao-Calangute road.
Upset over the panchayat’s direction to remove the statue, a mob of over 600 people gathered, pelted stones at the panchayat building and even indulged in scuffles. Cars parked on the panchayat building premises were also damaged by the agitators.
The high-voltage drama, which unfolded in the morning, finally ended in the evening after Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira apologised to the agitating crowd and announced that the panchayat’s order to remove the statue has been withdrawn. A huge police force was deployed to control the situation.
It may be noted that the Calangute panchayat had on Monday issued a direction to remove the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed near the Calangute police station, as it was allegedly installed without obtaining any permission.
Upset with the panchayat’s direction, admirers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from across the state gathered outside the panchayat building on Tuesday morning from 11.30 a.m. onwards and demanded withdrawal of the letter pertaining to removal of the statue.
Gradually the number of agitators increased and a crowd of over 600 came together holding saffron flags and shouting slogans like ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji, Har Har Mahadev, Jai Sri Ram’ outside the panchayat building.
Additional police force was called in to control the situation and to prevent any untoward incident following the pelting of stones at the panchayat building, which resulted in window glasses getting damaged.
Bardez deputy collector Yashaswini B., North Goa superintendent of police Nidhin Valsan, assistant superintendent of police Sachin Yadav, deputy superintendents Vishwesh Karpe, Jivba Dalvi, Rajesh Kumar, rushed to the spot with police inspectors.
The angry agitators, who were trying to enter the panchayat building, kept the police personnel on their toes throughout the day.
Clashes were witnessed between the mob and police personnel even as the deputy collector attempted to calm the agitators, who demanded an apology from the sarpanch.
Later, the order to remove the statue was kept in abeyance by the panchayat following a discussion held between the agitators and the sarpanch in the presence of the deputy collector. However, the agitators refused to budge from their position and demanded withdrawal of the letter directing removal of the statue.
Subsequently, another attempt was made to persuade the mob with the deputy collector announcing that the letter has been withdrawn. The agitators, however, demanded a public apology from the sarpanch.
The situation was about to go out of control at this moment when around 8-9 supporters of the sarpanch came to the panchayat building. This resulted in the agitators clashing with them; they pelted stones and even threw bottles at them. However, the police managed to control the situation.
Later, around 5.30 p.m., in the presence of a heavy police force, the sarpanch came out of the panchayat building and apologised and also announced that the letter directing removal of the statue has been withdrawn following which the agitators dispersed.