* Shiv premis install new statue; serve ultimatum to police to complete the investigation within 7 days
* Min Phaldesai, MLAs Carlos Ferreira & Premendra Shet perform abhishek pooja of statue
Goemkarponn desk
KARASWADA: Goa Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons for vandalising the
Shivaji Maharaj Statue which was installed under a tree near the tank at Karaswada, Acoi.
Several people assembled at the site in protest of the incident. Police said that FIR has been registered in the matter.
SP North Nidhin Valsan said an FIR has been registered against unknown persons under IPC Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc) and 427 (mischief causing damage) at Mapusa police station.
“The incident is suspected to have taken place around 5.30 am. We are reviewing CCTV footage in the area to identify the accused. Crime Branch has also been roped in for the probe,” said SP Valsan.
Local MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira who was present at the site condemned the act. He informed me that a new statue will be brought from Margao and installed at the site today evening in his presence. He also added that he will urge IDC to assign land for the installation of the statue.
Advocate Ramakant Khalap and shiv premi also submitted a memorandum to the police to complete the investigation within 7 days.
Minister Subhash Phaldesai, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Ferreri and Mayem MLA Premendra Shet performed abhishek pooja of the statue.
“We consider the one who converted people in Goa as God but when our people took out the rally of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and ‘they’ called it as wasteful expenses, we had taken out 30km rally with around 600 vehicles and all the expense was borne by me, not the Government,’ said Phaldesai
Meanwhile, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza urged the people to follow proper procedures to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, so that incidents like Karaswada don’t happen again.
North Goa MP and Union Minister of state for Tourism Shripad Naik also visited the site and appealed to everyone to be vigilant to stop such incidents. “This is an attack on our culture,” he said.
