-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM: The special Karapur-Sarvan gram sabha on Sunday, called to discuss the issue of construction of a single storey building at Vathadev-Bicholim, had to be postponed amid commotion. It may be recalled that the construction of the single storey building had sparked off controversy at Vathadev. The panchayat after taking cognizance of it inspected the building and had called a special meeting on Sunday. A strong police force was deployed at the site sighting law and order problem. When the meeting began, some villagers sought to know why people from outside the panchayat area were present in the hall. The panchayat urged those from outside the panchayat area to leave the hall. The panchayat also suggested that only person with a valid election card will be admitted in the hall. Many had brought their epic card as ID proof, but some who did not possess it got furious and said that it should have been told to them earlier. Some villagers demanded that the meeting should be postponed, while those who had brought their epic cards got furious and before the situation could go out of control, Sarpanch Aaryan Sawant announced that the meeting has been called off. Irked with this, the mob confronted the panchas, who left the meeting hall with the help of the police. A group led by ex-panch Rasul did not leave the hall and demanded explanation from the sarpanch as to how the decision of postponement was taken. Bicholim PI Ninad Devulkar, PSI, Razashad Shaikh, Joint Mamlatdar Pravin Parab tried to pacify the mob. Speaking to reporters, Rasul alleged that the panchayat did not give them chance to explain their case and postponed the meeting without any reason. “If the panchayat claim that the building is illegal, we should have been given a chance to explain our case and here was an opportunity for us to prove our point. Looking at our majority, they decided to postpone the meeting,” claimed Rasul. Later speaking to reporters, Sawant said the decision to postpone the meeting was taken based on the demands of the villagers. “Most of the villagers demanded that they did not get the ID proof which was required as we were unable to identify those present in the hall due to huge turnout,” said Sawant. Deputy Sarpanch Deeraj Sawant urged the villagers not to spread rumours and give the issue a communal colour. “There is no religious tension in the village and we would like to maintain peace. The issue is of illegal construction and the meeting was called to discuss it,” said Dheeraj.
