MARGAO: Tension rent the air in Benaulim following a clash between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers and NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao’s family members on Wednesday night which led to a war of words between them over the putting up of banners.
The high voltage drama lasted late night till the intervention of the Colva Police. Both the parties have filed complaints accusing each other of assault.
The incident was reported when Churchill’s son Savio Alemao and nephew Warren Alemao caught AAP volunteers including Benaulim ZP member Hanzel Fernandes putting up banners late Wednesday night.
AAP accused Savio and Warren of assaulting their volunteers and threatening Hanzel with dire consequences. Savio and Warren also alleged that AAP volunteers attacked them when they were caught putting up banners with Churchill’s photo without permission. The incident was reported to the Colva police station.
On receiving information about the incident, AAP’s State vice-president Adv Pratima Coutinho besides other leaders, rushed to the police station, demanding stern against Savio and Warren.
Speaking to the media persons MLA Churchill Alemao refuted the allegations that Savio and Warren had assaulted AAP volunteers. On the contrary, he accused the AAP volunteers of attacking Savio and Warren.
“Who has given them the right to put my photo on the banner without my permission? They have no permission from the Benaulim Panchayat to put up the banners”, said Churchill.
He claimed that AAP volunteers were caught red-handed putting up banners illegally in Benaulim.
“I am Nationalist Congress Party MLA and am not connected with AAP. Hence there is no point in putting my photo on the banner, to which Savio and Warren objected and questioned the AAP volunteers”, said Churchill.
Warren said they were moving from Colva to Benaulim and on the way they noticed AAP volunteers, including ZP member Hanzel Fernandes putting up banners with Churchill’s photo. And hence, we questioned them. Upon which they attacked us”, he alleged.
He further charged that AAP volunteers are creating fear amongst the people of Benaulim with such activities. “Being an elected representative the ZP member should have some principles in the life”, he said.
On the other hand Hanzel, in presence of two volunteers at the time of the incident, besides AAP leader Venzy Viegas alleged that they were attacked and assaulted by Warren and Savio.
“We were putting up the banners as per party’s order. However, on a Wednesday night, Warren and Savio stopped us and later assaulted two of our volunteers, Neri Fernandes and Albano Rebello. They also threatened me with dire consequences”, claimed Hanzel.
He alleged that this is purely goondagiri of Churchill Alemao which needs to be stopped.
“Both Savio and Warren were in an inebriated state and refused to undergo medical test”, he claimed.
Venzy Viegas said the MLA is creating fear amongst the people of Benaulim so that nobody dares to question him. “This is a pure act of goondagiri and we need to stop this”, he said.
When asked if they had permission from the panchayat to put up the banners, and did the MLA agree to put his photo on the banner, he said that if that was the case then MLA or the panchayat should have initiated action. MLA should have gone to the concerned authorities and filed a complaint but attacking the AAP volunteers was not the solution.
Colva Police Inspector Tukaram Chavan said he has received cross complaints from both parties but no FIR has been registered. “Will act after investigating the case”, he said.
