Team Herald
PANJIM: In a protest that left the police officers rubbing their eyes and their passers-by udder-ly shocked, frustrated farmers from Taleigao herded a stray buffalo into the Panjim police station on Saturday, claiming the bovine was guilty of munching away their livelihoods.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The impromptu “arrest” was led by socio political activist Cecille Rodrigues, young farmer Nathan D’Souza and veteran cultivator Francis Coelho.
Farmers said the stray cattle mostly come from Santa Cruz and also blamed the village panchayat for not constructing a cattle pound on the land given by the Comunidade on the Taleigao Plateau.
The Panjim police took custody of the bovine and transferred it to a government gaushala at Bicholim. Francis Coelho said, “Despite numerous complaints, the police have failed to act. We had to bring evidence ourselves to the station. The law and order situation in Goa under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is a complete sham.”
He criticised BJP spokespersons for consistentlydemanding proof from the public, as seen in the cash-for-jobs scam, emphasising that the onus of proof lies with investigative officers and government prosecutors to deliver justice to the poor and the public.
Detailing his extensive losses, Nathan D’Souza said, “It’s not just the standing crops of vegetables; equipment like mulching sheets, drip irrigation pipes, fencing, and other farming infrastructure have been destroyed.”
Ceasar Machado, another affected farmer, reminded the police of the Chief Minister’s unfulfilled promises. “The CM said he would hold cattle owners accountable and penalise them by cancelling their subsidies. But it’s all talk; no action has been taken.”
Cecille Rodrigues stated that the Taleigao Village panchayat had failed to build the cattle impound facility despite receiving government funds. The panchayat continue to collect annual funds for managing stray cattle but had done nothing, she said.
The Taleigao farmers demanded immediate and concrete action from the authorities to address the stray cattle menace and to hold accountable those responsible for the negligence that has led to their suffering.
