Team Goemkarponn
ACOI: A clash between two groups over worship, management and entry rights at Shree Simeshwar Devasthan in Acoi, Mapusa, has led to cross complaints being registered by Mapusa Police.
According to police, the first complaint was lodged on April 2 at 10.13 pm by Savita Sitaram Talgaonkar, Chandani Siraj Sawant, Kundan Narayan Malji and Vishwesh Santosh Lingutkar, all residents of Acoi. The complainants alleged that on April 1 at around 9.30 pm near the temple premises, a group formed an unlawful assembly over the ongoing dispute and wrongfully restrained them by surrounding them.
They further alleged that the accused verbally abused them using filthy and derogatory remarks, threatened them with dire consequences and assaulted them with slaps, kicks and fist blows, causing bodily injuries. The complaint also stated that one of the complainants belonging to a Scheduled Caste community was allegedly humiliated in public view through caste-based remarks.
In a cross complaint filed shortly thereafter, Jayesh Kalangutkar, Nitesh Kalangutkar and Rupesh Kerkar, also residents of Acoi, alleged that members of the rival group formed an unlawful assembly at the same place and time over the temple dispute. They claimed the accused persons wrongfully restrained them, verbally abused them, issued threats and assaulted them with slaps, kicks and fist blows, resulting in injuries.
Mapusa Police have registered both complaints and further investigation is in progress.
