Guilherme Almeida
Attribute it to the change in political guard in the state post-2012 Assembly poll or the swords of demolition hanging over the heads of the migrant inhabitants. Migrant inhabited Moti Dongor
– which earned notoriety following the infamous swords seizure and where gang wars broke out almost every day amongst rival groups enjoying political patronage to establish hegemony over the notified slum in the commercial capital – appears quiet.
The anti-socials seemed to have run for cover with the State invoking the dreaded National Security Act (NSA) and the police enjoying a free hand to crack a whip against lawlessness. Residents now appear more concerned about their very existence with the South Goa Administrator of Communidades last year ordering demolition of all the illegal structures dotting on the hillock.
And, the results of just concluded Lok Sabha poll – where the BJP led over Digambar Kamat’s Congress — indicates the shifting political loyalties atop the hillock with the saffron flag flying high on Moti Dongor, perhaps the first time in around a decade.
BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar says the situation is different now at Moti Dongor after the BJP returned to power in the state in 2012. “Goondagiri is under control atop the hillock. The man who gave them political patronage is no more in power. The anti-socials had the political backing of this man. The move to book the Sheik brothers Jalil and Bashir under the NSA had sent the right signal on the hillock”, he said, while denying political interference behind the detention of the duo under the NSA. Raiturkar admitted that the demolition sword hanging on the residents might have also changed the ground reality atop the hillock. But, he is equally aware that the BJP now runs the risk of losing its traditional vote base amongst Madgavkars if the party welcomes with open arms rehabilitation of the migrants. “Our stand on the migrant structures is clear. The voting pattern in the Lok Sabha poll will not change our stand. We will wait for the high court to decide on the matter. The government will then act accordingly. We have to take into account that there are many people at Moti Dongor, who have been putting up on the hillock over years now”, Raiturcar added.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, whose writ once ran large in the basties of Moti Dongor, however, begged to differ on allegations that he was responsible for the gang wars atop the hillock. “I had encouraged them to resort to violence. There were no gang wars, but the groups only fought amongst themselves and not with other people”, Kamat said.
When asked why Moti Dongor has not witnessed any violent incident since 2012 after the BJP returned back to power, Kamat attributes the situation to the demolition sword hanging on the residents.
Margao Police station in-charge, PI Sudesh Naik said Moti Dongor has been largely peaceful in the last two years with no major incident reported from the hillock. He dismissed the allegations that political considerations had prompted the police to book the Sheikh brothers under the NSA.
Tara Rajput, an elder from Moti Dongor said that people inhabiting the hillock live in peace. “People here are not anti-socials. They are peace loving people. The image of Moti Dongor was tarnished by a handful of ndividuals with political patronage”, Tara said, as he along with other residents anxiously wait for the regularisation and rehabilitation of the 270-odd structures facing an axe from the South Goa Administrator of Communidades.
Zuarinagar
– Over 2 lakhs sq mts
– Around 15,000 people
– Mostly inhabited by people working in Zuari Agro or Verna industrial estate or Sancoale Industrial estate. Within 10 km 3 major industries
– Small time criminal activities– gambling and matka
BOSSES
Mariano Parshuram Bigui – Kannadigas Govind – Lamanis Pillai
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
Ramakant Borkar Mauvin Godinho Tulshidas Naik
Chimbel
– Over 2 lakhs sq mts
– Around 15,000 people
BOSSES
Bichoo u Mohan narve u Alam
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
Babush Monserrate
Anil Hoble
Rudolf Fernandes
