MARGAO: The people of Rumdamol, Davorlim housing board on Tuesday morning blocked the Highway opposite Maruti Mandir after two sisters, who were walking to their school, were badly injured by a truck laden with roof tiles.
An angry mob staged a road block for over two hours and broke the window panes and damaged the truck involved in the accident. Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, who came to the spot, had to face the wrath of the agitated people. The people later had altercation with the police who tried to remove them from the road.
The Chief Minister, who was in the vicinity, assured all help and support to the injured girls. The Fisheries Minister Furtado, meanwhile, has been continuously monitoring the condition of the students and informed late night that both the sisters are out of danger and recovering.
Tuesday morning was a normal one for all, but not for the Pawar sisters. At around 7.30 am, Ravina Pawar aged 10 and Priti Pawar aged 12, were crushed and badly injured by a truck on a narrow stretch of road leading to Rumdamol.
The Margao town police have registered an offence against 50 people in the mob, including Mahantesh, Maruti Ragi, Vijay Ingale, Pika, Namdev and Salman under Section 143, 341 read with 49 of IPC and section 80 of National Highways Act for blocking road and Unlawful assembly. The Maina Curtorim Police has registered an offence against the truck driver Naguesh Vaman Bhandari, resident of Kumta, Karnataka for causing injuries to the girls.
According to the onlookers, the truck bearing license plate number KA-30-A-1122, was moving at a high speed and crushed the feet of at least four students walking by the side of the road. The Pawar sisters were amongst the ones who were badly injured and were taken to Hospicio and later shifted to GMC Bambolim for treatment.
Even after the assurance of Police Inspector of Maina Curtorim and Margao town to post police personnel at the spot daily, the mob did not move. Minister Furtado also tried to convince the mob but failed in his attempt. “For the past four years no MLA was able to widen this road,” complained Mahantesh Ragi, a local.
Meanwhile the minister informed that he has spoken to the warehouse owner Virginkar, who, he said, has agreed to part with the land on the side for widening of the road. He also said that heavy vehicles would not be allowed to enter this road.
