Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Canacona people under the banner of Canacona Community for Harmony (CCH) continued with their silent protest for the second day on Sunday at Canacona police station demanding quicker action to arrest Subhash Velingkar for his distasteful statements on St. Francis Xavier, has called-off further agitation for now.
‘We will wait and watch’, what the government is doing up hurtful statements made by Subhash Velingkar on our Saint Francis Xavier. As appealed by CJSP and requests coming from all over including the appeal to ‘stop protests for now’ by Adv. Pratima Coutinho, we have decided to halt everything for now and wait for the outcome of the demand to arrest and prosecute Subhash Velingkar’, the kingpin of making attempts to disturb peace and harmony in our otherwise peaceful State of Goa’, CCH coordinator Gaspar Coutinho.
On Sunday, the agitators came and grouped themselves outside the Police Station without making any noise or raising any slogans. However, as the group of men and women kept on swelling and were in a few dozens, police at the instructions of SDPO served tea to all the agitators and later invited the group for discussion.
In the presence of Canacona Dy. Collector Madhu Narvekar, SDPO Canacona SP Tikam Singh Verma met the agitators led by Gaspar Coutinho, who explained the reason for their presence at the police station for the second day.
On asking for a line of action on the complaint/memorandum submitted yesterday(Saturday) seeking an update on the registration of FIR against Subhash Velingkar for passing derogatory and hurtful statements on ‘Goycho Saib’, SDPO informed that the same has been forwarded to Bicholim Police and action and investigation is underway.
Coutinho then sought to know why there was so much delay in taking action and arresting the instigator when the SDPO informed that their procedure in underway, and authorities were doing their job. ‘The search notice is pasted on the door of Veling’s house and 48 hours are given to him to join the investigation’, SDPO informed.
SDPO(SP) and SDO (Dy Collector) also informed that if inspite of serving of notice the accused Velinger is not joining for investigation, then further action deemed fit will be taken by the authorities.’
Gaspar Coutinho later informed that Police and Dy. The collector has given us the assurance that action is coming up by tomorrow (Monday).
We will wait till tomorrow for the results of our protest, and we informed them that the protest is not over yet. We Canconkar;’s are of a peaceful nature, and till now we have not taken any wrong steps of road-blocked or anything that would hamper the peace of Canacona and disturb common people, and we will not take any such harsh decision, but our protests a silent one will continue till Velingkar is arrested and justice is served for his distaste full remarks on st. Francis Xavier, who is our revered Goycho Saib.’
Incidentally, after calling off Saturday’s protest at the Canacona police station against Subhash Velingkar, the Canacona Community for Harmony announced that the protest would be continued on Sunday but in a silent manner at the Canacona police station.
‘Even though the protestors on Saturday have dispersed after Canacona Police gave an assurance to take action against the disrupter of communal harmony Subhash Velingkar, we have a feeling that the police department is not keen on taking any action against the peace disturber’
We are more determined than ever before and together we march on for justice. Incidentally, a large number of people turned up for the protest at Canacona police station and many people sensing the disinterest being shown by the police to take any tangible action were refusing to move out. Many were heard saying that they would not leave until he (Velingkar) was arrested and wee ready to sit on for days at the police station. The anger was visible as some said they were willing to go on for Hunger Strike’, and at times people were getting enraged and agitated.
Stating people are now more determined than ever before and don’t want to lower the guard against the habitual disrupter of peace and harmony, posts on social platforms have requested to share and spread the message with everyone to join the protest at Canacona Police station with even more force.
