BJP COMES DOWN HEAVILY ON GOVT: DEMANDS JUDICIAL ENQUIRY

PANJIM: United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have alleged murder in the death of Mangesh Goankar and Dilip Kato Velip during the schedule tribe demonstration on Thursday. UTAA and BJP have demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident at Balli. They also claim that there is a political mastermind behind turning the peaceful demonstration violent.

Addressing the press conference UTAA president Prakash Velip demanded judicial inquiry into the entire Balli incident by either a retired judge or serving judge. He also demanded that the police immediately arrest the culprit behind the death of Mangesh Goankar and Dilip Velip. They said that families of both the deceased have decided not to take custody of the bodies till the culprits are arrested.

UTAA members Mangesh, 26, from Gaondongiri and Dilip, 28, from Morpilla in Quepem lost their lives during the demonstration.

Velip said that six youth were inside the Achal Bhavan when it was set ablaze by local goons. Mangesh and Dilip were able to come out from the building but while running away they were knocked down by the. Miscreants killed them and threw them in the fire.  "We suspect coldblooded murder of both. We demand a judicial inquiry," said Velip

The UTAA president claimed that the 10,000-odd agitators were in the process of dispersing peacefully after a day-long agitation on Wednesday, in which road and rail transport was blocked when the South Goa collector issued a lathi charge. The peaceful demonstration turned violent and taking advantage of this some unknown miscreants started attacking the tribals, even beating up tribal legislator Ramesh Tawadkar.

UTAA also demanded that the South Goa collector G P Naik, SP Tony Rodrigues and DySP Mahesh Gaonkar holding charge as SDPO (Margao) should be immediately suspended for this incident.  "South Goa collector, police present at the spot are responsible for the incident. That is why we demand that they be immediately suspended," said Velip

BJP Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar alleged that police and goons worked together. "When this type of incident takes place, where even MLAs are not safe, then chief minister Digambar Kamat has no right to continue as the CM," said Tawadkar.

Later in the evening, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar said that this is was a planned murder of both the youths, "If everything related to this incident has to be exposed then an inquiry should be conducted by a retired or acting high court judge," said Parrikar

Addressing a press conference in Panjim, Parrikar said, "This action is executed by politicians to take revenge and to create fear, fiasco against Ramesh Tawadkar and Prakash Velip," said Parrikar.

Parrikar also demanded that the culprits be arrested by tomorrow (Friday). "Police can easily identify the goons because there is video recording of the incident. We know the culprits. Let the police investigate first or else we will provide the names of the culprits," said Parrikar. – TNN