MARGAO: The last rites of Margao municipal councillor Ashlesha Naik were performed at the Mathagramastha Hindu Sabha crematorium in Margao on Monday.
Her father Ramesh Naik performed the last rites at the crematorium, while her family members, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, former MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva, Councillors Tito Cardozo, Raju Shirodkar, Avinash Shirodkar, Rupesh Mahatme, Bhai Naik, and other prominent citizens were present for the ceremony.
It may be recalled that Ashlesha was on a picnic with her friends and family at a river in Sonarbhat, Usgao, when Curchorem lad Arafat Shaikh, who was also at the picnic, started drowning in the river. She went to save Arafat, who embraced her tightly out of fear, which resulted in both of them drowning in the river. They were taken to a hospital in a 108 ambulance, where they were declared brought dead.
Several people have demanded that she be conferred a bravery award for fearlessly trying to save the Curchorem boy from drowning. Prominent citizens and her fellow councillors have requested the State government to consider her for the prestigious award.
Ashlesha was part of the Model Margao panel lead by Digambar Kamat, and she had defeated BJP-backed Deobala Bhise by 669 votes.
