TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Five policemen and three photojournalists of various publications were injured when the police tried to stop a bullfight at Davondem-Fatorda, on Saturday.
The spectators started pelting stones at the police when the police tried to stop the bullfight and chase away the bystanders. Some of the spectators charged at one photojournalist Sagun Gawade and allegedly hit him on the head with a stone. They also snatched and smashed his camera worth Rs 70,000.
The police have identified the organiser of the bullfight as Johnny Crasto who is labelled as a habitual offender and has been convicted in one such bullfight case reported in 2012.
The police have taken into custody the driver and owner of the tanker which was supplying water to the bullfight organisers. An FIR has been registered against organiser Johnny Crasto and two others under section 143, 146, 147, 148, 353, 186, 332, 149 of IPC and 11 (m) (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Narrating the incident, Margao Police Inspector Sudesh Naik said that the Margao Police Station got a call from headquarters informing that a bullfight was underway at Davondem-Fatorda. The police in-charge immediately sent a team to the place which tried to stop the bullfight and chase the spectators away. The spectators hid in a bandhara in the field and started pelting stones at them. Some of the police constables on the front line were hit.
The DySP Mohan Naik has vowed stern action against the people responsible.
