The fear that gang rivalry may have raised its ugly head in Mangor Hill, Vasco, after a gap of five years has caused alarm among residents in the area.
Vasco police has, however, ruled out gang rivalry into Sunday’s incident and has assured residents that the stray incident would not lead to tension in the area.
Speaking to Herald, the residents said peace had prevailed in Mangor Hill near Gurudwara since the last five years after the last gang war, as all youth in the locality were employed and had stayed away from trouble.
“The boys have realised that fights will take them nowhere and they are now working in different places and have started earning their daily bread in an upright manner,” said Suresh Naik of Mangor Hill.
“There were gangs operating from Mangor Hill near Ambabai Temple till the late 1990s. However, most of the gang leaders are dead and others have given up fighting, as it only creates more problems for them,” added Naik.
Speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity to avoid police harassment, some boys from the locality confirmed that no gang-related fights had taken place near the Gurudwara area at Mangor Hill since the last five years, as everyone was busy with their own work.
“We will never allow a gang war in Mangor Hill and we will try to protect peace and harmony that is prevailing in Mangor Hill,” said a youth.
The boys, however, admitted that Sunday’s incident had rattled people in the area, after some boys had stabbed Maulali Habib Sheik, who is in critical condition at GMC Hospital, and Abdul Rehaman, who is recovering at GMC.
“There are no gangs in Mangor Hill as portrayed by the media. It’s true that some boys came from Baina and Mangor Hill near Ambabai Temple and stabbed Sheik and Rehaman. The local boys only went to stop the fight and in the bargain, got arrested by the police,” said a resident.
A resident claimed that the police could lay their hands on the two accused, Manju Madar and Durgesh Madar, only because the boys from Mangor Hill had caught them and had handed them over to the police.
Meanwhile, family members dismissed rumours in a section of media (not Herald) that Sheik’s sister had attempted to commit suicide.
Speaking to Herald, the girl said some people had spread rumours and clarified that she never tried to commit suicide.
Vasco police has also ruled out gang war in the Sunday’s incident and said it was not a gang war, but stated that a group of boys went and attacked Sheik and Rehaman with a knife.
Asked to justify the arrest of other boys, a policeman said: “If police had not taken some boys into custody on Sunday night, the situation would have remained tense in Mangor Hill area. A complaint of assault was also filed against those taken into custody, but the complaint was withdrawn on Monday.”
