http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=030751
Total bandh in Shiroda, Cuncolim NT Reporters Team Margao March 6: Shiroda and Cuncolim witnessed a total bandh today with all shops and commercial establishments remaining closed. The situation was under control, barring the stoning of a house and a KTC bus. Margao and Canacona reported a partial bandh, while the bursting of crackers at Quepem led to the closure of shops. The situation in Shiroda became tense at around 7.30 a.m, when some people blocked roads and later stoned a house built under the 20-point programme scheme in a locality popularly known as 'Fukat Nagri'. The people insisted that all commercial activity in the area be closed down. They tried to justify their action saying that some people from the area had participated in the meeting at Sanvordem, the day violence broke out. Those who stoned the house of a person claimed that the house-owner used to hoist a green flag resembling the Pakistani flag on his house. The owner of the house however refuted the claim saying it was not a Pakistani flag and added that he had hoisted it to portray his devotion to a particular saint. The police however managed to bring the situation under control amid reports that a madrassa in the locality was the target of the residents. This however proved to be false. The streets in Shiroda wore a deserted look and shops remained closed. Earlier in the day, the police cleared the debris dumped on the streets. Some trees were also used to block the roads. The North Goa superintendent of police, Mr D K Sawant, SDPO (Panaji), Mr Deu Banaulikar, SDPO (Ponda), Mr Mohan Naik and Ponda PI, Mr Manjunath Dessai were part of a team of policemen who maintained a vigil of the area. In Margao, the situation was quite different, with the response to a bandh call by a few members of the market committee being partial. Several shops remained closed with the fear of being attacked by some miscreants. Police protection was provided to certain establishments owned by members of the minority community. Except for the vegetable vendors of Gandhi market, others in Malbhat, New Market and other areas of Margao kept their shutters down post lunch. The Dhargal MLA, Mr Manohar Azgaonkar, the Fatorda MLA, Mr Damu Naik, the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress president, Mr Girish Chodankar were among others who moved around the market area requesting the vendors to keep their shops open. However, the vendors who closed their shops were reportedly upset with the fact that these politicians tried to tell them what to do and what not to do. The Power Minister, Mr Digamber Kamat also took a round of the city to ensure that there was no law and order problem. The Margao town police and the Rapid Action Force contingent deployed in the city took out a flag march that went around various parts of the city in a bid to instill confidence in the people and the traders to maintain normalcy. In Cuncolim, some miscreants stoned a Kadamba bus, near Combia Khuris, at around 9.30 a.m, injuring a person in the process. The bus was going to Margao from Karwar. The name of the injured, who received injuries to his hand, was given as Mr Ravindra Dessai. The entire Cuncolim market barring a pharmacy and a newspaper agent were closed. The RAF and police were patrolling the city throughout the day. Though there was no sign of any problem in Quepem, a sudden blast of a big box of crackers at around 4.30 p.m sent the authorities into a frenzy with the police and fire services personnel rushing in, only to discover that the blast was caused by fire crackers. Following the blast all shopkeepers downed their shutters. In Canacona, though there was no incident of violence, a partial bandh was observed with many shops remaining closed. Police sources said that situation in the entire South Goa district is normal and no complaint of cognizable nature was received by them today. A CISF company was posted at Sanvordem-Curchorem besides this there was one platoon of Goa Reserve Police Force and local police were deployed for bandobast. At Cuncolim too, the police said that no offence was registered. Police said that a RAF company was posted in Margao but no untoward incident was reported. The police said that schools, colleges, banks, and other private companies were open. The police claimed that the law and order situation is under control. The South Goa superintendent of police, Mr Shekhar Prabhudessai also visited Cuncolim and Canacona. Armed policemen have been posted at all the mosques in South Goa, sources in the police informed. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England Comment: What a crazy situation; these people intimidate and impose their will on the minority, then they have a bandh! - Only in Goa!
