Team Herald
PONDA: Nirankal villagers have refuted the allegations that the sarpanch and a group of locals had damaged the huts of the nomad Vanarmare tribe and demanded that the State or Maharashtra governments rehabilitate them outside the village.
Addressing the media, the Nirankal villagers have opposed to the nomad Vanarmare tribe residing in huts in the village and vowed not to tolerate them, alleging that the tribe members was a threat to village children, women, on account of their behaviour.
Refuting the allegations that the Sarpanch Poonam Samanth and group of villagers had damaged the huts of the tribe, they accused the five Dabal locals of conspiring against the sarpanch to gain political mileage and for trying to malign his image.
The villagers further warned that the government will be held responsible if any untoward incident is reported in the village with regard to the tribals.
Ashwin Gaonkar, former Sarpanch Madu Khandpeparkar, Attorney of Nirankal Communnidade Ravi Gaonkar, Babita Samant and Sanjeev Gaonkar addressed the media.
They said that they including the Sarpanch had never damaged the huts of the tribe as alleged by an activist from Taleigao, who approached to Human rights commission. The villagers requested him to visit the village, note the fact and file a petition.
The locals further accused five Dabal ‘outsiders’ of defaming them and their Sarpanch and threatened to protest if there were further allegations levelled against the Sarpanch.
