CALANGUTE/PANJIM: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo was attacked and injured by Arpora-Nagoa Panch Cleophas Fernandes, when Lobo had gone to inspect road works at Arpora market Friday evening.
Fernandes, who had recently resigned as deputy sarpanch, fled after the attack and has been booked by Anjuna police on the charge of attempt to murder.
The attack took place on the day Roshan Redkar was elected the new deputy sarpanch and Lobo suspected that Fernandes had attacked him after being upset over Redkar’s election.
According to reports, Fernandes initially pushed the Calangute MLA and later struck him with a stick on his hand. Lobo was rushed to District Hospital at Mapusa for medical attention and was later discharged. Acting on a complaint filed by Lobo, Anjuna police have registered an offence against Fernandes under Section 307 of IPC.
Later speaking to Herald, Lobo said the incident took place while he was overseeing road works at Arpora market. “I was proceeding towards a restaurant, when all of a sudden Cleophas Fernandes came and pushed me. Later, he hit me with something on my hand and disappeared,” said Lobo.
“I am told that Fernandes has been placing his own demands with business owners in Arpora. Today, he became desperate over the election of the new Arpora deputy sarpanch and he gave vent to his anger on me.”
“Fernandes has been speaking against me since morning while the election of the new deputy sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa was underway. Fernandes has crossed his limits and it’s high time to show him his right place. I have filed a complaint with Anjuna police (against him) for assaulting me,” said Lobo.
The Calangute MLA also alleged that Fernandes had threatened the panchayat secretary and the observer during the deputy sarpanch’s election.
“He had threatened to transfer them to remote areas of Goa using political influence. Fernandes has been harassing locals of his ward and other villagers of Arpora, including the business fraternity,” claimed Lobo.
Anjuna PI Paresh Naik said that Fernandes had fled from the spot after the attack. “We have launched a manhunt to trace his whereabouts. He will be arrested soon,” he told Herald.
In his police complaint, Lobo stated that Fernandes, who has a criminal record against him, had picked up a stick to hit Lobo in a fit of rage over a petty issue.
“The assailant went to hit Lobo on his head. The MLA tried to protect his head and sustained injuries on his hand,” the police revealed.
INFOBOX
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo attacked and injured by Arpora-Nagoa Panch Cleophas Fernandes
Lobo was inspecting road works at Arpora market when he was attacked
Fernandes fled after the attack and has been booked on the charge of attempt to murder
Lobo was treated at District Hospital at Mapusa for medical attention and was later discharged
[QUOTE ROOM]
Prominent personalities in Calangute constituency cutting across party lines and rivalries have condemned the assault on Calangute MLA Michael Lobo
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I condemn the assault on the elected representative. One has every right to argue and quarrel, but raising one’s hand on an elected representative needs condemnation. I sympathise with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo over the incident, though we are political opponents.
– Joseph Sequeira, Calangute Panch
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I condemn the violence by and against an elected representative.
– Agnelo Fernandes, former Calangute MLA
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One cannot vent his anger on an elected representative. If there is a misunderstanding, it should be sorted out in an amicable way and not through ‘goondaism’. I condemn the incident of assault.
– Delilah Lobo, Michael Lobo’s wife and Parra sarpanch
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You cannot assault an elected representative and strict action should be initiated against the person involved in the incident.
– Yeshwant Kandolkar, BJP Yuva President of Calangute
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It is not right to assault an elected representative. It is ‘goondaism’ and should not be tolerated and the State government should punish the guilty. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar should send a strong signal by punishing the perpetrator of crime.
– Ganesh Ghongade of Arpora
We highly condemn the incident. An attack on an elected public representative is highly deplorable. We demand that police investigate the matter and find out the real heads behind the attack.
Sunil Kawthankar, Congress Secretary
