Canconkars boo, abuse CM
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday faced the people’s wrath over failure of the police to arrest the culprits involved in the rape and murder of 50-year-old fisherwoman Vijaya Pagi.
In a high drama, Parrikar got cracking on reaching Canacona to pacify the agitating people protesting police failure to nab the culprits and instead invited the agitators who reportedly booed and abused the chief minister, while the protesters claimed that the chief minister pushed one of the agitators before leaving the site.
The agitators, who till the arrival of Parrikar at about 3 pm were peacefully protesting at Chaudi, retaliated; and booed and abused the chief minister.
An angry group of women and others began to question the chief minister over delay in arresting the culprits involved in the rape and murder of the fisherwoman. Annoyed with the sudden questioning, Parrikar sought to re-question the one quizzing him by asking: “Have you seen the rapist and murderer?”, and pointing to policemen said: “Note the name of this gentleman and take him to the police-station for questioning.”
On hearing such a snub, others close by began to shout against the chief minister, who was frisked into his car and drove straight to the police station, where Parrikar sought to downplay the agitation by Canconcars as only a political exercise by opponents and not a lethal protest.
When questioned, Parrikar refused to buy the story that there is any extraordinary delay in commencing the investigation. “There is no extraordinary delay, but may be there is some delay in commencing the investigation into the rape and murder of Pagi,” Parrikar said when a scribe pointed out that senior officers reached the crime spot only three-and-half hours later.
“PI was away to hand over the Ruby Residency building collapse case file to the crime branch, while two PSIs were also at the crime spot within a hour. The SP too reached the spot in an hour’s time after he was informed.”
“It is not the duty of the chief minister or home minister, but the police have already taken a call and the culprits will be arrested soon. They are working on the leads,” informed Parrikar in the presence of Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Goa Law Commission Chairman Narendra Sawaikar, SP (South) Prabhudessai, SP (Crime) Kashyap, PI Harischandra Madkaikar and others.
When asked what authorities will do if agitators resort to road blockade and obstruct traffic on NH17, Parrikar said: “It is for the law-enforcing authorities to take a call. Government has given them a free hand and there won’t be any government pressure, neither to investigate in the rape and murder incident nor to enforce law and order.”
“It’s a planned crime, the accused committed the crime out of anger and hatred without keeping any clue,” he added.
Interestingly, the chief minister’s motorcade, on learning that agitators were headed to the police station, changed its course and instead went via the Mastimoll internal road and Kindlem-Ponsulem towards Char-Rasta (highway point).
