TEAM HERALD
PERNEM: The Dhargal gram sabha on Sunday took a violent turn when two panchas were allegedly assaulted after residents demanded revocation of NOCs to two industrial units in the village.
Opposing the NOCs given to the two industries, irate villagers questioned Sarpanch Vinkita Naik and other panchayat members over granting NOC to the two polluting industries at Mahakhazan-Dhargal.
It is learnt that Panch Avelin Rodrigues before getting elected as the panch was reportedly opposing the two industries in the gram sabhas.
“However, after getting elected as the panchayat member, he got a contract of supplying water to the two industries,” claimed a villager.
However, when the villagers during gram sabha on Sunday asked Rodrigues why he was supporting the two industries, altercation took place between the villagers and Panch Rodrigues and another panch.
Rodrigues told the gram sabha members that it was his business of supplying water to the two industries. However, the villagers were not satisfied with the reply given by Rodrigues and demanded revocation of the NOC to the two industries.
In the melee, locals allegedly assaulted Rodrigues and another panch. Rodrigues who had sustained head injury was admitted at Tuem Primary Health Centre. However, he was later discharged after administering first aid.
Later, Sarpanch Vinkita Naik filed a police compliant against two gram sabha members, Abhay Dhargalkar and Amit Sawal, who were later arrested by Pernem Police.
“The Dhargal Panchayat has decided to revoke the NOC issued to the two industries which are creating pollution in the village. The panchayat will remain with the people,” assured Sarpanch Naik.
