Goa feels Bharat bandh heat
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 5
Goa remained paralysed for most part of the day due to Monday’s ‘Bharat bandh’, even as stone-pelting incidents were reported from some parts keeping the police on their toes to ward off untoward incidents.
While a few minor incidents of trouble were reported from across the State, police said the capital city remained peaceful for major part of the day, barring an incident in which three Shiv Sainiks had to be arrested for trying to close down the Navtara Hotel. (Related reports on pg 2)
Vijay Surlakar, Gajanan Mutkekar and Sunil St Inezkar were placed under preventive arrest (section 151 of Cr Pc) and later produced before the magistrate. They were released on an interim bond.
Though life in the city came to a standstill with shops and other business establishments downing their shutters, some of the pharmacies remained open throughout the day.
Most of the schools had minimal attendance which prompted the heads to urge students to return home, while some schools despite having less staff functioned normally.
The Don Bosco School, which otherwise is always humming with students, wore a deserted look in the morning during working hours with most students returning home for an extended holiday after a Sunday.
Functioning of all courts in the city was impacted as administrative staff and lawyers took a break. “Matters had to be adjourned due to the absence of lawyers,” said one of the High Court employees.
However, by evening, the city started springing to life with some of the petrol pumps opening up to make up for the business lost during major part of the day. After 6 pm some of the hotels too opened their shutters.
A press release issued by the Department of Information quoted the two Superintendents of Police (North and South Goa) Arvind Gawas and Allen De Sa claiming the bandh in the State as peaceful barring stray incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses.
Managing Director of Kadamba Transport Corporation Venancio Furtado said out of the 370 buses only 70 plied on the routes. “Some minor damages were caused to the vehicles due to stone pelting but no complaints were registered because the loss was minimal,” he stated.
KTC Chairman Deepak Dhavlikar claimed Kadamba was successful in providing transport service to the people across the State. “The buses, most of them under police protection, were able to carry double the capacity in the morning session,” he said. Director of Transport Arun Dessai too claimed KTC buses were everywhere and more than required.
At the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim the serpentine queues at the outpatient departments (OPDs) were absent. On regular days the OPDs extend upto 2 pm, but today by 11 am they were empty.
Medical Superintendent Rajan Kuncolienkar said hospital functioning remained normal even though some nursing staff and Class IV workers couldn’t make it for duty. “Nevertheless, all the scheduled and some emergency operations were conducted without any hassle,” he stated.
