Daijiworld Media Network - Colva
Colva, Feb 11: Colva village witnessed high drama on Tuesday after hundreds of villagers stormed the Colva police station protesting the presence of police personnel at Colva Church while a community meeting was underway near a chapel in the fishing ward.
The villagers had gathered in support of a local fisherman’s family amid an ongoing standoff with Delhi-based builders over a right of way dispute. Tension escalated after reports spread that Colva police station in-charge PI Vikram Naik, along with a posse of policemen, had visited the church around noon.
On learning about the police presence, villagers abruptly left the meeting venue and rushed to the church premises to ascertain the reason behind the visit. Not finding the police team there, they proceeded to the Colva police station, demanding an explanation and seeking immediate action against PI Naik, including his transfer and suspension.
By Tuesday evening, the police department transferred PI Vikram Naik out of Colva and directed him to report to the South district police headquarters. PI Diego Gracias, in-charge of Cuncolim Police Station, has been given additional charge of the Colva police station.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, social worker Warren Alemao, activist Fidol Pereira and several villagers gathered at the police station, questioning PI Naik’s decision to visit the church with a police team.
As tempers flared, Margao DySP Sidhant Shirodkar and later South Goa SP Santosh Desai rushed to Colva to defuse the situation and prevent any law and order problem.
The unrest comes in the backdrop of a recent dispute between a local family and the Delhi builders over a pathway and right of way, with some villagers expressing suspicion that the police were siding with the builders.
Earlier in the day, villagers had invited the media for a briefing near a local chapel in the fishing ward to highlight their concerns over the manner in which the Delhi party was constructing villas in the area. While the media interaction was underway, news of the police visit to the church triggered alarm among residents, who suspected ulterior motives.
As the crowd swelled at the police station, villagers demanded an apology from PI Naik and questioned SP Desai as to why a transfer order issued against the officer last year had not been enforced.
Clarifying his stand, PI Vikram Naik stated that he and his team were on their way to the chapel meeting. “On the way, I decided to call on the Parish Priest since I was told that an announcement had been made in the Church about Tuesday’s meeting near the Chapel. I alone went inside the Church to meet the Parish Priest to discuss the fisherman/Delhi party right of way issue, while the staff were told to wait outside the Church premises. I had no intention to create a scene at the Church or to hurt anyone’s sentiments with the police presence,” he said.
However, the crowd rejected his explanation and insisted that the SP enforce the pending transfer order and remove him from Colva, followed by dismissal proceedings. It was only after the villagers refused to vacate the police station premises that the district police chief assured them of PI Naik’s transfer, bringing the tense situation under control.