Team Herald
PANJIM: Anti-PDA activists Rama Kankonkar and Arturo D’Souza claimed they were assaulted on Sunday night at Electricity Department’s Kadamba sub-station during a protest over the long power failure.
Speaking to reporters Kankonkar and D’Souza said a complaint has been filed at Old Goa Police Station against Ajit Bacal, a close supporter of St Andre MLA Francis Silveira, for assaulting them in darkness.
Kankonkar and D’Souza have been protesting the formation of the Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA). D’Souza, who was with Kankonkar on Sunday night when the assault took place, said the attack was due to the anti-PDA agitation which successfully managed to delete areas from Azossim-Mandur from the PDA.
Kankonkar alleged that Bacal was upset with him for the successful agitation. D’Souza also claimed that he was assaulted by Bacal.
A formal complaint has been lodged with Old Goa Police station, and anti-PDA activists have demanded that the accused be arrested.
Silveira and his supporters had marched to the Kadamba sub-station as there was no power supply the entire day. A power shutdown had been announced till 6pm but until midnight power supply had not been resumed.
The assault took place following some verbal clashes between Kankonkar and Silveira’s supporters. Witnesses said that Kankonkar had been demanding that Silveira join them in marching to the Power Minister’s house in Old Goa, which the MLA ignored. Due to this there was an argument that resulted into an assault in the darkness.
