CANACONA: The annual Sinha purush zatra atop a hill at Avli in Cotigao was held on Friday amidst heavy police bandobast as there was a fear of law and order problem due to presence of two groups in the village, one demanding that they are also entitled to taking part in the religious part of the zatra while others denying them that right.
Dando is a part of the mountainous range between Neturlim and Canacona in Cotigao which was inhabited by tribals since time immemorial. It still has five temples and many houses and due to the geographical location all the locals staying atop the mountain where fresh water is available all year round have shifted down to the foothills.
Sources at the Canacona police station said that there was an apprehension of law and order problem as another group from the village had staked claimed to hoist and install the seventh Sontri at the Sinha purush temple at Dando to which there was a strong resistance from the first group.
About 200 devotees with a strong pose of ninety police personnel drawn from local police station, Indian reserved battalion and reserve police under the leadership of PI Rajendra Prabhudessai braved and climbed the over one hour treacherous steep slope in the wee hours of Friday and after performing the religious rites installed six sontreos left the place after locking the temple before the dawn.
However, no untoward incident was reported during or immediately after the zatra while police has said the second warring group to register complaint if any to the police and any untoward incident in the locality will be dealt seriously as per the law police said.
