800 plus people of Goa, light candles and speak up for sword attack victims Rafael and Raju
602 sign memorandum to CM asking for quick investigation, name officers they trust and those they don’t
Amazing show of people power and solidarity at Campal garden
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As Rafael Da Costa’s 84-year-old father, Perigrinho, looked through his thick glasses at hundreds of candles that lit up the inky night, in solidarity with his boy Rafael, he did let slip a few tears. But he found courage to hold up his own candle joining 800 others, in a heart rending show of people power against one uncontrolled wayward attacker who almost killed his son and his friend Raju Sarin with his sword.
It may be recalled that the accused Zaine Almeida attacked these two, with a sword drawn from his car, on the wee hours of Easter Sunday in the heart of Panjim, without any provocation.
The rising people’s anger against what is known as the Panjim sword attack, reached its crescendo but unlike the sword that Zaine Almeida picked up to slash the throat of Raju Sarin and gorge the eyes out of Rafael Da Costa, the weapons people of Goa used were far more powerful- pens and candles.
Responding to the detailed coverage of the incident and the growing apprehension of the investigation being sacrificed at the altar of high influence of the accused father, Goa’s civil society woke up. Hundreds of text and Whats app messages, Facebook postings and announcements on radio resulted in a spontaneous outpouring of people with not a rupee spent. The Panjim Mayor lent his support and the Deputy Mayor Kabir Pinto Makhija, himself a resident and friend of Rafael pitched in along with many others to make this evening light up with hope.
If ever Panjim needed its civil society to speak for their beloved city it was now. But Saturday’s candle-lit meeting with a massive turnout was not just Panjim’s meeting. It was Goa’s. People from across the state from Candolim to Margao turned up. Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, St Cruz MLA Babush Monserratte and the Mayor Surendra Furtado not only came but lit candles and joined in the singling of two sprightly and moving songs by singer Varun Carvalho.
As the candles were lit and songs were sung there was one demand “Justice for Rafael and Raju” and one hope-making Goa safe. Meanwhile the pages kept for people to sign to be attached to the memorandum to the Chief Minister began filling up. At last count, much after the meeting was over there were 602 signatures as many who were there couldn’t manage to get to the signing tables.
It was clear that this was not ordinary vigil. People meant business. The memorandum they signed had clear demands starting with removing the Investigating Officer from the case. It was also a manual for the police on which direction the investigation should take. But above all it was a call of strength and solidarity which beat not just one but thousands of swords.
Goa did it, with candles, songs and pens.
