Team Herald
SANGUEM: Following the death of local youth Navlesh Chari, who was run over by a truck on Wednesday, the villagers of Cotarli in Sanguem demanded a complete halt to the movement of heavy vehicles within the village. Early on Thursday morning, a large gathering of villagers blocked the Dabamal-Cotarli main road, where the accident took place, and demanded that the multinational soft drink factory at Xelpem Industrial Estate halt production until their demands are met.
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The villagers also refused to accept Chari’s body, and called on the soft drink company, whose truck they allege ran over the youth, to provide a permanent job to the brother of the deceased.
Navlesh Chari was the lone earning member of his family, and had celebrated his 25th birthday just a day before the tragic accident, said the agitating villagers.
A special meeting headed by Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai, was convened in the afternoon, which had the Sanguem Deputy Collector, PI Pravin Gawas, Traffic Cell PI Arjun Sangodkar, officials from the soft drink company and the protesting villagers in attendance.
At the meeting, the villagers warned that no vehicle with eight to twelve wheels will be allowed in the village until the government widens the village roads for industrial use.
After a lengthy discussion, the soft drink company officials assured that they would employ the brother of the deceased within five days, after discussing the matter with their higher-ups. They also agreed not to indulge in the transportation of any finished products or raw materials through the village till the villagers’ demands are met.
The villagers then took possession of the youth’s body, to conduct the last rites. The Cotarli locals also urged the government to install speed breakers at certain places and ensure that motorists stick to the speed limit.
