Team Goemkarponn
COLVALE: The detention of an Assistant Engineer from the Electricity Department by Colvale Police for allegedly refusing to report for election duty has snowballed into a major political controversy in North Goa.
According to officials, the engineer had cited his responsibility for managing the sensitive Colvale substation as the reason for not joining election duty. However, on the instructions of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Suyash Khandeparkar, police detained the officer for non-compliance.
The move drew immediate criticism from social activist Kashinath Shetye, who visited the North Goa Collector’s office seeking clarity on the legality and necessity of the detention. Shetye alleged administrative overreach and questioned whether essential service officers should be compelled for election assignments at the cost of public infrastructure safety.
In response, North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav clarified that the administration acted as per standard election protocols, adding that he was personally overseeing field operations related to form distribution when Shetye visited his office.
The incident has since taken a sharp political turn. AAP Goa President Amit Palekar accused the government of “administrative high-handedness” and misuse of authority, while Congress leaders, led by GPCC Chief Amit Patkar, staged a protest outside the North Goa Collectorate. Police stopped the protestors at the entrance, as Patkar demanded to know whether the detention had been ordered at the Chief Minister’s behest.
The episode has reignited debate over the conflict between essential service responsibilities and mandatory election duty, with opposition parties calling for accountability and restraint from the administration in enforcing election directives.
