from Daijiworld's special correspondent - Saturday, 4-15 pm
Panaji, Mar 4: The situation in Sanvordem, a village in south Goa remained tense, as mob continued violence forcing police to resort to firing several times in a day. Two persons were seriously wounded after being hit by police bullets, while mob mercilessly beat a police inspector and ran away with his revolver. A late report said one person later died, which news is yet to be confirmed by official sources.
For the first time, the state which is ran by a Congress government, saw tension between minority and majority communities over a disputed structure used by minority community for prayers.
On Friday afternoon, a rally organized by a minority community to condemn the partial demolition of the structure by a few persons on March 1 night, took a violent turn with rival factions gathering in mobs against each other.
Police had to resort to lathi charge and firing in the air. After police action, the mob went on rampage and damaged several vehicles, establishments and two petrol pumps in the town.
"We had to evacuate the minority community members from the town to avoid further clashes,’’ stated deputy inspector general of police Ujwal Mishra.
The violence continued throughout night as the mob completely razed down the disputed structure in the presence of police.
Later district administration clamped section 144 in the town and arrested 100 persons which fuelled the violence again.
On Saturday morning, a mob attacked the police station, forcing the police to resort to cane charge, which left several injuredinjuring several persons.
Different groups of people continued ransacking the market and twice attacked the police station. Second time, they attacked police inspector Devendra Gad and snatched away his revolver.
Not being to control the unruly crowd, the police resorted to firing, seriously injuring two persons. The situation in the town remained tensed even after additional police force was requisitioned there.
Goa govenor S C Jamir along with chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and chief secretary J P Singh on Saturday visited the town but failed to pacify the crowd.
BJP leaders were seen on the forefront of the crowd with leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar and BJP chief Rajendra Arlekar seen holding the guards.
"This is complete failure of the administration… Currently, it’s our foremost responsibility is to bring back normalcy in the town,” Parrikar told mediapersons at the backdrop of a part of the crowd pelting stones at the shops.