Tension prevailed in Karapur after villagers staged a protest at the local panchayat office over the continued delay in issuing a show-cause notice and stop-work order to the mega housing project, House of Abhinandan Lodha, currently underway in the village.
According to villagers, a resolution demanding action against the project had already been passed during the gram sabha held last month. Former Sarpanch Divya Naik had reportedly assured residents that the required notice would be issued soon.
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On April 30, Divya Naik informed villagers that the notice would be served shortly. However, before any action could be taken, she resigned from the post of Sarpanch. Following her resignation, the administration of the panchayat was handed over to Deputy Sarpanch Bibi Ayesha Magold. Villagers alleged that she too was absent from the panchayat office during the ongoing controversy.
Angered by what they described as continuous delays and inaction by the panchayat over the last two weeks, protesters laid siege to the panchayat office on Monday.
During the agitation, Jamir Magold, husband of the Deputy Sarpanch, reportedly arrived at the office for personal work. Villagers stopped him and questioned him regarding the absence of the Deputy Sarpanch and the lack of action against the project.
Jamir allegedly informed the protesters that the Deputy Sarpanch would be present at the office the following day. However, the villagers refused to accept the assurance and prevented him from leaving the premises.
The agitators declared that their sit-in protest would continue until the Deputy Sarpanch personally arrived at the office and issued the required order against the project.
Later, personnel from the Bicholim Police reached the spot, and under police protection, Jamir Magold was escorted out of the panchayat office.
