MARGAO
Tension rent the air at Cuncolim police station on Sunday evening after members of the Muslim community assembled in large numbers to demand action against three persons for allegedly assaulting a community member Shaikh Abdul Kayad earlier in the day.
The situation threatened to go out of control after members of Hindu community also descended at the police station demanding action against the rival group for hurting their religious sentiments.
The Goa police mobilized a strong force with reinforcements from other police stations as a precautionary measure. Sub-Divisional Police officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai rushed to Cuncolim to take stock of the situation.
Members of the Muslim community left the police station after the police registered a FIR against Viraj Desai, Sandesh Kenkre and Sapnesh Desai in connection with the assault on Shaikh Abul Kayad, who is undergoing treatment at the South district hospital with head injuries.
Briefing media, members of the Muslim community pointed out that they returned from the Cuncolim police station after a FIR was registered against the three accused. They, however, said they expect the police to initiate action at the earliest.
Attributing the assault on Kayad to the Julus procession taken out by the Muslims at Cuncolim on the occasion of the Birthday of Prophet Mohammed, Rafa Sheikh pointed out that some outside people are fomenting trouble in Cuncolim by raking up unnecessary issues after the community took out the Julus procession despite objections by the Bajrang Dal. “Bajrang Dal president Viraj Desai had lodged his objection to the Julus procession. We all live peacefully in Cuncolim. When the procession of Shantadurga Kunkalikarin passes through the areas inhabited by the Muslims, they all welcome her with respect. Viraj, however, is making an issue that the Muslim community has hurt his sentiments by alleging that the Muslims have made a remark against Shantadurga, which is false”, he said.
DySP Santosh Desai later told media that Cuncolim police received a complaint from the injured Muslim community member and a counter complaint from the rival group, which has claimed their religious sentiments have been hurt.
DySP Desai informed that Bajrang Dal leader Viraj Desai has lodged his complaint stating that his religious sentiments has been hurt by members of the Muslim community.
“We are examining both the complaint and counter complaint and will take action as per the law”, he said. He said the situation is peaceful in Cuncolim with both the groups dispersing from the Cuncolim police station.
