Team Herald
MARGAO: There was a unanimous demand for the investigation into the death of Fr Bismarque Dias to be conducted by a special investigation team (SIT) at the public meeting at Lohia Maidan on Saturday. This was amidst calls to stand united and maintain communal harmony, while speakers emphasized that this is fight for Goa and the issues that Fr Bismarque had fought for.
On this note, the crowd demanded that the Regional Plan 2021 be denotified immediately or else they would intensify their protests across Goa.
Prakash Bandodkar stated that Fr Bismarque activism was the reason the controversial RP had been suspended for the last-three-and-a-half years by the BJP government. He also spoke about how Fr Bismarque was the first person to sign a petition for cases to be filed against former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
Historian Prajal Sakhardande spoke about Fr Bismarque was part of the group fighting for special status for Goa and how successive governments had failed the people. He also urged Goans to commemorate November 6 as martyrs day given that Fr Bismarque was Goa’s martyr.
Other speakers alleged that the ‘builder- politician’ nexus was behind Fr Bismarque’s death and that the right to speak freely about issues was being suppressed. Speakers also scoffed at the intention of the alleged killers that the voice of Fr Bismarque would be silenced and said that Goans would now speak for Fr Bismarque.
Danielle Pinto’s analogy of how a single bee is ignored but a million bees together can make the mighty tremble was apt and well-received.
Activist Kennedy Afonso and others speakers criticised the police for failing to investigate the case properly and gave examples of how the police had ignored or manhandled evidence. They also called for an independent non-government lab to conduct an analysis in view of the latest viscera report.
“The viscera report; police investigation report and the statement of the two boys contradict one another. We demand a through probe into the whole case,” said Tavares, while the crowd unanimously supported his demand.
They further demanded that the investigation be fast-tracked immediately and that the chairman of the Human Rights Association or a retired judge monitor the SIT investigation, as demanded by public.
“We demand that immediate DNA profiling of the blood stained vest and mud with blood samples be collected by the police of Fr Bismarque within 48 hours, or else it will be presumed that the intention of the government and police is suspect.
“A diatom test has to be done as soon as possible. Mud with blood has to be preserved after the test. Call details and tower locations must be arranged. Also, a lie detector test on the boy Ganesh must be done immediately as it is very crucial,” said Afonso.
The police also came under severe criticism for their shoddy investigations and the attack on peaceful protesters during their rally in Panjim.
The public also demanded an inquiry into the Old Goa police station and collection of the evidence, which was subsequently tampered with and destroyed by the officers. They also called for the dismissal of the Old Goa PI for the same.
Pointing out that the reports ruled out consumption of alcohol and anti-depressants, Dr Francisco Colaco said that the police do not have any facts to rule out murder and that the case should have been investigated from all angles, especially since Fr Bismarque had created hurdles for many with his activism.
He also castigated the government for trying to suppress activism, and an English daily for trying to project the case in a different light.
While activist Judith Almeida spoke about how Fr Bismarque was fighting to save the contaminated rivers of Goa, she recalled a conversation where Fr Bismarque had said that if he was to die, Goa would wake up. When she asked the crowd if Fr Bismarque’s words had turned out to be true, the crowd yelled in unison that it was true.
As Jacinto Souza pointed out, Fr Bismarque had no personal agenda and deeply cared about the people and their problems, and that is why he had taken part in many movements across the State. He added that it was time for people from across Goa to stand up and fight for the man who spent his whole life fighting for Goa.
