Irate mob damages vehicles, attacks cops
VASCO, MARCH 4
The death of a youth in a road mishap sparked off tension in the port town on Wednesday night, as an irate mob damaged vehicles and pelted stones at policemen and other authorities.
A policeman has been reported injured in the incident, while a truck, a 108 Ambulance and a fire brigade were damaged by the mob.
Trouble began when a youth was crushed to death near the Shivam Theatre in Vasco. The mishap took place at about 7.50 pm, when one Parshuram Harijan from Housing Board Colony, New Vaddem was proceeding to his house on a Pulsar motorcycle (GA-06-C-0513) after a workout at a gym in Vasco.
Eyewitnesses claimed that both the motorcycle and a sugar-laden truck (KA-25-A-9885) were proceeding along same lane at F L Gomes Road. Harijan dashed against a cycle and fell off the motorcycle, only to be crushed to death under the truck, which was trailing the motorcycle.
Though the Vasco police station is at a short distance from the site, it took the police nearly 20 minutes to reach the site. The 108 Ambulance was also delayed and reached the spot only after the body was shifted in a PCR van.
Upset over the delay of the police and 108 Ambulance, angry residents of Khariwaddo, Vasco and New Vaddem went on a rampage and damaged the truck.
When an inconsolable brother of the deceased reached the accident site, the mob got even more agitated and poured kerosene on the truck in a bid to set it ablaze. However, police quickly cordoned off the truck and thwarted the incident.
The mob also pelted stones at the fire brigade, which rushed to the spot as a preventive measure, forcing the fire brigade to withdraw from the site. The fire fighters escaped unhurt.
The mob then turned its fury at the police and pelted stones at the cops, injuring a newly recruited PSI John.
Speaking to reporters, DySP Mhamal claimed that the 108 Ambulances was attending to another call and was unable to reach the site in quick time.
The incident also disrupted traffic along the F L Gomes road for nearly 30 minutes. While the Traffic Police was accused of avoiding the troubled site, Traffic PI Darmesh Angle claimed he was busy diverting vehicles to other internal roads towards Swatantra path road.
Sensing that the situation could go out of hand, police requisitioned additional police force and the Goa Armed Police.
Vasco police has arrested the truck driver, one Rajappa H Basan Gauda, in the connection.
