PANJIM: A day after the locals ransacked the premises of Cricketers Bar & Restaurant in Naika Waddo Calangute, the Deputy Collector, Mapusa has ordered closure of the premises fearing further deterioration in law and order.
Dy Collector & SDM, Mapusa Pundalik V. Khorjuekar clamped Section 144 (I) Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and has ordered that “Cricketeres Bar & Restaurant now renamed as Champions Bar & Restaurant situated at Naikawaddo Calangute desist the respective owners from re-opening the bar & restaurant and do hereby order concerned SDPO and police inspector to maintain status quo.”
The order says the section will remain in force between December 24 and February 20.
An aritcle in this regard was carried on Herald’s December 24 edition under the headline “Calangute locals damage restaurant operating illegally”.
The order further states that the directions have been issued in view of serious law and order situation, “it would be fit to pass appropriate order for the closure of the establishment till the matter is sorted out and till owners possess proper licences.” Reacting to the matter, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said “any establishment being operated illegally in Calangute and if villagers have an issue with it, the same will be shut.”
“People’s patience is on the wane and as an MLA, it is my job to see that all such illegalities are not allowed to continue,” he said.
Save Calangute President Kundan Kerkar welcomed the decision and thanked the MLA for taking up the issue.
“We welcome the order but the relief is just for two months and we feel that such illegal premises and businesses should be shut down permanently,” he said adding that ”not only in Cricketers, but all other illegal businesses in the constituency which are earning a bad name for the village should be shut.”
