Ponda, Oct 19 (IANS): The village bazaar of Usgao, Ponda, observed a total bandh on Tuesday following protests from local villagers against the threats they had received from migrants, residing in the area, on Saturday.

Villagers from Usgao have warned the migrants not to try their patience and said they should not try to dominate the locals just because Goans are hospitable.
The locals called the bandh to express solidarity. All establishments, except clinics and pharmacies, were closed.

On Saturday, a group of migrants first threatened the local residents with swords after a petty incident that escalated into clashes between the two parties. Later, the locals ransacked and burnt the residences of the migrants.

A public meeting and a rally was organized on Tuesday. Nearly thousand villagers participated in the meeting and rally. Besides Usgao, Dharbandora and Sacorda villagers also supported the move.

Speakers at the public meeting criticized the incident and warned the migrants not to get involved in hooliganism.

Dharbandora sarpanch Balaji Gawas demanded that the group of the migrants be arrested by the police and expelled from the village.

Dnyaneshwar Naik, Usgao ZP, said the group in its complaint to Ponda police, has named several people from Usgao and Dharbandora villages who were involved in ransacking their residences and attacking their women.