VASCO: Tension prevailed at Birla Zuarinagar on Tuesday evening following a clash between Congress and BJP supporters over a minor accident between Cortalim Congress candidate Gilbert Mariano Rodridues’ car and BJP supported Panch Member from Sancoale Rangappa Kamal’s bike.
According to police, the incident reported at about 5 pm occurred when Rodrigues’ car dashed Kamal’s scooter near Ayyappa Temple. From an oral argument, the fight turned ugly as Kamal and family members, including his brother Shivanand Kamal who had come to the rescue of Kamal, were allegedly assaulted by Congress supporters.
Kamal’s relatives alleged that Congress supporters came with sword and knife to assault them during the clash, though police did not confirm this. They said they ran inside the temple and saved themselves from the attack. The situation grew tense when Congress supporters damaged the Kamal’s two-wheeler and BJP supporters damaged Rodrigues’ car.
Stone pelting and glass bottles being flung were also reported in which about nine persons, including four Congress supporters and five BJP supporters sustained minor injuries. Minister for Science and Technology Alina Saldanha rushed to the site. A strong pose of police from Verna, Vasco and Mormugao police stations was deployed at the site to defuse the tension and control the situation.
Rodrigues, on the other hand, claimed that it was Kamal and other BJP supporters who charged to assault Congress supporters and said he is unaware as to what provoked the clash as he had gone to Verna police station to lodge a complaint.
After the tension was defused, supporters from both groups rushed to Verna police station to file complaints against each other.
Following a formal complaint by Kamal, Verna police registered a case against Rodrigues, along with 13 known, and five to six unknown persons. Police said the case has been booked under section 143, 144, 147, 323, 325, 427 read with section 149 IPC and section 8 of Goa Children’s Act 2008. As per police Kamal in his complaint has alleged that Rodrigues and his supporters assaulted him and other accused persons armed with deadly weapon assaulted his family members including minors.
