Team Herald
Vasco: Chicalim villagers along with, Dabolim and St. Jacinto islanders demanded police action against the bunch of people against their the rowdiness and uncivilised behaviour against newly elected unopposed parishioner Stefanie Lucas and verbal abuse on parish priest Rev. Fr. Bolmax Pereira.
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Villagers also demanded that SC/ST commission should take sue motto action against the person for the abuse against the elected panch member and also demanded that police should register offence in this matter.
On Tuesday, Parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim held a press briefing outside church.
Later, in a press statement issued by the villagers of Chicalim, they mentioned that their parishioner from ward no 2. Stefanie Lucas had contested the by-elections of the village panchayat and was declared elected unopposed by the Returning Officer on March 6.
“Ms. Stefanie was a unanimous choice of the entire ward no.2 where majority of the residents belong to the ST Community who supported her wholeheartedly and none opposed her candidature. “Some frustrated elements from Chicalim village tried to hijack her independent status and give it a colour of a political party,” the statement reads.
But Stefanie apparently refused to endorse any political party for her victory. She stated in very clear terms that her candidature was independent, as a youth initiative by the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, of which she is a founding member.These alleged anti-social elements allegedly trespassed into Stefanie’s residence the same evening and started abusing the newly elected Panch and also her parents.
Upon calling when Rev. Fr.Bolmax Pereira, who is the local Parish Priest and also the mentor of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), alongwith some members of the CFYC rushed to Stefanie’s rescue the goons apparently started abusing him, questioning his motive of coming.
Chicalim villagers also demanded that the police machinery should act against all those who allegedly abused and threatened Rev. Fr. Bolmax Pereira.
Villagers stated that police should also take into cognisance the complained lodged by young Mathew D’souza from St. Jacinto Island who was also allegedly threatened of dire consequences and physical harm by two persons on the phone. Young Mathew, who belongs to the OBC community from St. Jacinto Island was accused by the two sons of a prominent political leader of having video filmed this entire episode that happened between Stafanie and Fr. Bolmax and for uploading the same on social media which later became viral. Mathew D’souza had denied doing any filming or uploading, however he was reportedly threatened to apologise to their father or to face dire consequences of physical harm. Both threatening calls were brought to the notice of the Vasco Police Authorities by Mathew D’souza in his written complaint lodged on evening March 6, itself, the day of the incident.
