SANGUEM: Neturlim villagers in Sanguem taluka on Sunday demanded dropping of the externment proceedings against their Deputy Sarpanch Abhijit Satyavan Dessai.
The demand was made during a meeting held in the village to discuss on the externment proceedings filed against Dessai.
Besides the villagers, the meeting was attended by six of the seven panchayat members.
At the meeting, the villagers and the panchayat members condemned the police action and alleged fake FIRs filed against Dessai.
The agitated villagers also condemned Sanguem Police Inspector for recommending externment proceedings against Dessai as, according to them, all the complaints filed against Dessai are frivolous and false.
Sarpanch Rajani Gaonkar and Panchas Vithal Gaonkar and Prakash Bhagat questioned the authorities over the sudden spurt in criminal cases against Dessai since he became the deputy sarpanch.
The externment proceedings have been initiated against Dessai for his involvement in four criminal cases during the last one and half year which includes a case of outraging woman’s modesty through comments on social media, collection of illegal toll from visitors to the village which is filed against all the panchayat members, assault on government servants and a complaint under POSCO.
During the course of discussion, the villagers demanded dropping of externment proceedings filed against Dessai.
The villagers claimed that Dessai has been actively involved in the conduct of development activities in the village and has been a helping hand to the villagers in need.
At the meeting, the villagers resolved to send memorandum to the respective government offices for dropping the externment proceedings against Dessai at the earliest.
At the meeting, the villagers formed an eleven-member committee to discuss on the future course of action in the matter including the drafting of memorandum and letters to the authorities concerned. The meeting also resolved to undertake a signature campaign in the village to seek the dropping of externment proceedings.
It is pertinent to note here that the panchayat had issued a notice for the conduct of extraordinary special gram sabha on the issue. However, the permission to conduct the extraordinary gram Sabha was declined by the Block Development Officer, Sanguem as the subject matter of the gram Sabha was sub-judice.
Therefore, the villagers convened a special meeting to discuss on the issue of externment proceedings.
