Team Herald
MARGAO: A large number of Benaulim residents took part in a candlelight procession that culminated at a public meeting held at the Dando ground on Thursday evening to show solidarity with Fr Bismarque Dias and to protest the government’s handling of the case.
Incidentally, some locals had attended a meeting with Fr Bismarque in Benaulim a few weeks before his demise.
At the meeting, activist Fr Eremito Rebello, who had addressed a similar gathering at Cansaulim recently, criticised the government for its shoddy investigation. Praising the ‘green’ activist, Fr Eremito wondered if the government and police were trying to deny justice to Fr Bismarque and all those who come onto the streets to fight for the same. He recalled a similar case in Quepem a few years ago, where the police botched up the case, and only after the people had protested did the police carry out proper investigations, which revealed the truth.
Goans for Goa convenor Kennedy Afonso referred to the statements made by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar that the protesters had called MLAs and ministers.
“It is an outright lie as the people were ready to spend the night and even start a hunger strike in Anjuna jail,” said Afonso, who called the agitation a victory of the people.
He also criticised Parsekar’s comments about the image of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and questioned what image was being sent by brutally handling peaceful protestors and if Parsekar was more concerned about images compared to the demand of the people.
While Afonso called for the immediate appointment of an SIT to investigate the case, many in the crowd demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI.
Mahesh Dattaram Nayak, president of Jai Damodar Association, also announced that a grand public awareness meeting will be held at Lohia Maidan, Margao, on November 30 at 4 pm to highlight the death of Fr Bismarque and to discuss the ill-treatment meted to protesters by police on November 21.
