TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Normal life came to a standstill in Canacona on Monday, as all the business establishments kept their shutters down to show solidarity with the residents agitating against police failure to nab the culprits involved in rape and murder of fisherwoman Vijaya Pagi.
Over 2,000 people gathered outside Canacona Police station at 8.30 am demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in rape and murder of Pagi (50) at Rajbhagh-Tarir last Friday.
Except for public and private transport, nothing moved in the taluka with all the business establishments keeping their shutters down since morning. Even the day-to-day vendors were amiss, while vegetable and fish markets did not even open for the day.
However, as a special gesture not to inconvenience travellers, the traffic on NH17 road and internal road ran normally.
As the figure of protestors began to swell across NH17 road, which passes next to Canacona Police station, a worried police team led by SP (South) S M. Prabhudessai invited about 10 persons from the group for discussion and later requested to disperse from the area.
After assuring the police that no law and order problem will be created by the peacefully protesting residents for police failure to nab the culprits, the strong crowd shouting slogans marched towards the town and shifted their protest venue at old bus stand at Chaudi.
A strong pose of policemen, including the specially requisitioned police from other areas, earlier at the police station and at Chaudi kept a watch from a distance, but the aggrieved people seeing any police vehicle passing across Chaudi began to raise slogans seeking justice to the murdered woman.
By afternoon, it was peaceful protest at Chaudi old bus stand, as speakers demanded an assurance from the authorities.
Meanwhile, the entire street of Palolem main beach wore a deserted look and not a single establishment, otherwise buzzing with tourists, remained closed.
Even availability of taxi services to the tourists was difficult, as most drivers left their tourist vehicles unattended to participate in the protest at Chaudi.
Barring one-two, most shops and restaurants, including pharmacies, clinics, town schools, other institutions, remained shut for the day.
Even banks kept their shutters closed in Chaudi town.
At Loliem, the main village bazaar at Maxem remained shut, while Poinguinim bazaar initially functioned and later pulled down their shutters, even as many businesses in the hinterlands did not open for the day.
