-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM, APRIL 4 – A road mishap sparked off tension in Mulgao-Bicholim on Thursday, after residents accused Bicholim DySP Shamba Sawant of assaulting two of their elected representatives. Giving vent to their anger, residents along with Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar have decided to block all traffic plying along Mulgao on Friday. According to reports, Mulgao Deputy Sarpanch Prashant alias Vishalsen Gad and Panch Nilesh Gad were traveling towards Bicholim on their motorcycle (GA-01-B-2763). On the way, a mining truck (GA-03-T-9783), driven by K V Francisco Fernandes of Assonora struck the motorcycle. The two riders, however, escaped unhurt. Prashant Gad stopped the truck and called up Bicholim police. The deputy sarpanch claimed the Bicholim police was unwilling to attend to the call and asked him to file a written complaint at the police station Annoyed with the police, the deputy sarpanch, panch Nilesh Gad, Bicholim Councillor Kamlakant Teli and some residents stopped the traffic at Mulgao at about 12.30 pm. Bicholim DySP Shamba Sawant and a police team went to the site after about two hours and reportedly invited the agitators to a meeting in his office. "Nilesh and I went to the DySP's office, we were assaulted by DySP Sawant. A complaint was also registered against us under Section 151 IPC. We were brought here on the pretext of a discussion and the police, instead of filing a complaint against the truck driver, assaulted us," said Prashant, while showing his bruised hands to local reporters. In the afternoon, residents went to the Bicholim police station to complain about the rash movement of mining traffic. Bicholim police allegedly asked the residents to forward their complaint to the RTO. The RTO officials, in turn, told the residents to submit their grievances to the deputy collector, who tried to wash his hands off the situation. News of the alleged assault on the two elected representatives spread like wildfire and Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar convened a public meeting at Mulgao. Residents later decided to block all traffic passing by Mulgao on Friday from 10.30 am onwards, to protest against the police atrocities and rash movement of mining vehicles. When contacted, DySP Shamba Sawant denied having assaulted the two elected representatives. "They (Prashant and Nilesh) had no right to block traffic along the road. Bicholim police acted in accordance with the law," said DySP Sawant. Meanwhile, Bicholim police has also detained the truck driver driving in a rash manner and later released him with a fine.