CONGRESS DEMAND ARREST OF ACCUSED FOR DAMAGING SOUZA LOBO BAR OR TO FACE CONSEQUENCES
PANAJI: Opposition Congress Party on Monday demanded immediate arrest of all those involved in rioting and damaging Souza Lobo Restaurant and Bar at Umtawado-Calangute or to face the consequences of the villagers.
Speaking to reporters, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) general secretary and former MLA Agnel Fernandes alleged that about rioters including men and women from Delhi on Saturday night damaged and demolished iconic Souza Lobo restaurant and bar belonging to former Calangute sarpanch.
He said that what was shocking was the silence of Ports Minister Michael Lobo and the Calangute village panchayat except panchayat members in the opposition condemning the incident. He said it was only after locals gathered at the site the rioters fled.
He said that organised crimes, extortion, prostitution, drugs and murders were on the rise and the assailants were getting emboldened in Calangute constituency.
“They (owners of Souza Lobo) are not my supporters. In fact, they had openly supported Michael Lobo when I contested Assembly elections. But is bad that such things are happening in Calangute,” Fernandes said.
Accusing police hand-in-glove with the accused, Fernandes asked, “Can this happen without settling police and local MLA? Conveniently local MLA (Michael Lobo) is not in Goa. I alleged that this is setting. I want to tell Michael Lobo that enough of pandering outsiders and Lamanis and attacking Goemkars.”
The former Calangute MLA said that no action was taken against the builder, who bulldozed the area and demolished the iconic hotel. He said that during last seven to eight year tourism was dropping and prostitution had flourished in Calangute coastal area.
He said that so far police had arrested only one accused while, other rioters were at large.
A case under section 447, 341, 323 and 427 read with 34 IPC has been registered in this connection.