PANJIM: The Socorro village panchayat on Friday had to postpone demolition of a house belonging to a Goan after a stay was granted by the Court at the last minute.
The high drama occurred when some panchayat members and other officials and police approached one Gajanan Chari and asked the inmates of the house to vacate within half-an-hour. However, the family members including senior women and children locked themselves inside and resisted the demolition squad.
Owner Gajanan Chari alleged that he was given only 30 minutes to vacate the house and his plea for more time was rejected. However, Chari approached the District Court and obtained a stay against the demolition order issued by the Socorro village panchayat.
A large number of activists also alleged that the Socorro panchayat was selectively targeting Chari when there were many other illegal houses in the village. Some political activists who also rushed to the spot alleged that Chari was being targeted by the panchayat.
The demolition squad beat a hasty retreat after villagers booed and shooed them away.
