CALANGUTE/ PANJIM: Tension prevailed at Naikka Vaddo, Calangute late Wednesday night after the owners of Cricketers Restaurant opened the restaurant that had been closed down earlier in the evening by police as a precautionary measure.
Angered by the restaurant being reopened, locals barged into it and damaged tables, chairs and lights. Calangute police detained three workers of the restaurant for opening the premises sans licences.
Earlier, around 500 locals from Calangute and Candolim had gathered near the restaurant and later assembled in front of the restaurant along with former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes demanding its closure.
Calangute Police had to rush and shut Cricketers Restaurant to prevent a repetition of incident of 2013 after a local was assaulted by the owners of the restaurant. A Calangute Police team headed by PSI Nitin Harlankar had reached the site and prevented any untoward incident. Police Inspector Tushar Vernekar along with other officers, including PSI Mahesh Gadekar, arrived at the site and calmed down the situation. Staff of the restaurant were rounded up by the Calangute Police for enquiry.
On December 3, Herald had published a report ‘Police inspector’s wife bats for restaurateur involved in drugs and prostitution trade’ on how the place is run sans any licences. It has been almost 20 days since then but the police failed to take any action and hence the villagers decided to take matters in their own hands on Wednesday evening.
Locals have demanded the immediate closure of Cricketers Restaurant till they obtain the required permissions from all the authorities.
Locals allege that the owner, Abhishek Mishra, who has rented the place to PI Devendra Gad’s wife, runs a prostitution racket under the guise of restaurant. PI Vernekar assured the locals to send the report immediately to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate for further action.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who rushed to spot tried to pacify the locals asking them not to take law in their hand. “I have asked the police to act immediately and shut the place and tomorrow I will meet the deputy collector and SP north also over the issue,” Lobo said adding, “people of Calangute have become intolerant to any illegalities.”
Former MLA Fernandes, who also joined the protest, alleged that the restaurant is being run with political patronage and supported the demand of the villagers. Fernandes said, “The locals alerted me over the restaurant being run illegally without any permission even from the village panchayat. The authorities need to verify the facts and close down the restaurant till they get all the requisite permissions.”
A local Vandana said, “The restaurant is being run illegally causing inconvenience to the locals and illegal activities are also happening in the premises. Calangute panchayat has supported us in our demand for closure of the restaurant but the same is being run with political support. We want the restaurant to remain closed till they get the requisite permissions from the concerned authorities.”
Kundan Kerkar, president of Save Calangute, said, “The MLA of Calangute Michael Lobo has given in writing that the owners of the premises are involved in prostitution and other illegalities. We do not want such illegalities in the area tarnishing the name of our village. This was open challenge to police and locals even after shutting in the evening they dared to open again and hence we had to take this stance,” he said.
Shankar Kerkar questioned as to how the restaurant is being run despite the matter being taken to the courts and demanded a status quo.
