Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: In a shocking incident, Canacona Police have registered two counter FIRs following a mob assault on two senior citizens at Shristhal Panchayat building late Monday evening. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a long-standing family dispute, has now taken a political turn with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) demanding action against a government officer allegedly involved in the episode.
According to sources, a mob of over 40 men and women allegedly stormed two shops operated by the elderly victims at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday over a dispute related to ‘Garwai,’ a family issue in the village, and physically assaulted the duo.
In the first FIR, police recorded a complaint from a woman resident of Canacona, alleging that Kusta Velip and Bhisso Velip, both residents of Shristhal, threatened her and about 41 others with dire consequences, and later pushed and touched her and another woman inappropriately, thereby outraging their modesty.
The case has been registered under Sections 351(2), 74 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, with further investigation being conducted by LPSI Anuradha Dessai of Canacona Police Station.
In the second FIR, lodged by Chandrashekhar Velip of Shristhal, the complainant alleged that Shanu Velip, Akshata Velip, Pallavi Velip, Gautami Velip, Netra Velip, Vithoba Velip, Dilip Velip, Vandana Velip, Nitesh Velip, Nilesh Velip, Kavita Velip, Nali Velip, Kushali Velip, Suralaksha Velip, Laxman Velip, Deepa Velip, and others formed an unlawful assembly, abused, and assaulted his father Kusta Velip and another elderly man Bhisso Velip with slaps, fists, wooden sticks, and a metal lock, causing them injuries.
This case was registered under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 352, 189(2), 191(2), 191(3) read with 190 of BNS 2023, and is being investigated by PSI Ramdas Doifode of Canacona Police Station.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at Shristhal, GFP leaders Prashant Naik (General Secretary and Spokesperson) and Vikas Bhagat (Environment Cell Chairman) condemned the assault, calling it a “brutal attack on two senior citizens.”
“The group of men and women trespassed into the shops of Kusta Velip and Bhisso Velip and assaulted them over a civil matter that could have been resolved amicably,” said Bhagat.
Naik alleged the active involvement of a top government officer, identified as Dy. Collector Milind Velip, claiming his presence outside the shops during the incident. He demanded the immediate suspension of the officer and criminal action against all those involved in the mob assault.
Naik further accused Canacona Police of delaying the registration of the FIR. “The FIR against the attackers was filed only after pressure from higher authorities, while the victims themselves were named in a prior FIR despite being hospitalized at the District Hospital, Margao,” he added.
