(Herald - Goa
March 20, 2007)
Probe indicts none, says riots pre-planned
BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 20 – The Magisterial inquiry which went into the Curchorem-Sanvordem communal riots in early March last year, has concluded that “it is intuitively and logically reasonable to presume” that there was a pre-planned and pre-conceived orientation to the communal riots but in the absence of any tangible evidence, it is not possible to identify or pinpoint the actual persons or organisations responsible for it.
The inquiry report submitted by the North Goa District Collector and District Magistrate Nikhil Kumar was made public by the government on Tuesday.
Going through the issue in detail, the Magistrate said the violence that occurred on March 3-4 was in the nature of an eruption which was precipitated due to the building up of continuous tension and strain between the two communities – Hindus and Muslims — over the past many months.
In December 2005, there was resentment among the majority community over the construction/renovation of an alleged illegal structure used as madrasa in Guddemol village situated in a government property.
The pressure-cooker scenario continued to exacerbate culminating in the demolition of the illegal structure on March 1. The subsequent proposed peace march by the Muslim community and spiteful rumour mongering about influx of armed outsiders of the Muslim community from Bhatkal, etc, resulted in violence, loot and arson on March 3-4, the report said.
The State government had asked the District Magistrate to conduct the inquiry by an order dated May 10 after the communal riots in Cuchorem-Sanvordem on March 3-4, 2006 had caused a scar on Goa’s communal harmony.
The report also highlights the failure of the police, village panchayat, and other authorities in nipping such situations in the bud before they go out of hand. Remedial measures are also suggested by the Magistrate to prevent such incidents from occurring in future.
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Showing posts with label Curchorem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curchorem. Show all posts
March 14, 2007
Communal Violence in Goa - one year on
(Herald
March 12, 2007)
Editorial
Stop communal trouble
It has been one year since the state was rocked by communal violence in Savordem and
Curchorem. And sadly one year later, the same village was rocked once again by two warring factions of a particular community.
What have we learnt from these incidents? Simple that it only takes a spark to set off a riot in Goa and it only needs a few rumours for trouble to break out. In this context, while the Central government has enacted a bill to preserve communal harmony, surely Goa should also consider moving such a bill to maintain the tranquility and harmony in the state. Goa is undergoing a sea change and this is more than evident from the changing demographic profile of the state. Certain communities are increasing and certain communities are on the decline. And this is where it is essential that the law enforcement authorities are given additional teeth to tackle such situations.
Over the past few years, Goa has witnessed incidents which have a communal tinge to it. The incident at Bambolim, vandilisation of churches and crosses and now the clashes at Savordem. What was horrifying about the clashes was the intensity where choppers and swords were openly used? This is not the behaviour Goa is used to and unless the authorities contemplated a bill which can curb these incidents then do not expect the tranquility of Goa to remain the same. Goa needs a bill where the law enforcement authorities have the power to arrest anyone making inflammatory speeches or for that matter stirring up communal discord. It should be given the power to place under house arrest known trouble makers and for that matter the right to takeover any religious place which is known to ferment religious trouble or which is being used as a base to stir up communal tension. Many will say that this will be too draconian and will violate religious freedom but what is at stake here. People’s lives and property which is in danger due to few vested interests. And it should be in place because those who stir up the trouble do not get affected. It is the ordinary man who loses everything, it is the ordinary man who has to run from pillar to post and it is the ordinary man who has to try and find his future in the ashes. It is to protect these people, the innocent and to ensure that the social fabric of the state is maintained that Goa has to have some measures to stop it before it can erupt. Because all it takes is one spark and Goa cannot afford that spark.
March 12, 2007)
Editorial
Stop communal trouble
It has been one year since the state was rocked by communal violence in Savordem and
Curchorem. And sadly one year later, the same village was rocked once again by two warring factions of a particular community.
What have we learnt from these incidents? Simple that it only takes a spark to set off a riot in Goa and it only needs a few rumours for trouble to break out. In this context, while the Central government has enacted a bill to preserve communal harmony, surely Goa should also consider moving such a bill to maintain the tranquility and harmony in the state. Goa is undergoing a sea change and this is more than evident from the changing demographic profile of the state. Certain communities are increasing and certain communities are on the decline. And this is where it is essential that the law enforcement authorities are given additional teeth to tackle such situations.
Over the past few years, Goa has witnessed incidents which have a communal tinge to it. The incident at Bambolim, vandilisation of churches and crosses and now the clashes at Savordem. What was horrifying about the clashes was the intensity where choppers and swords were openly used? This is not the behaviour Goa is used to and unless the authorities contemplated a bill which can curb these incidents then do not expect the tranquility of Goa to remain the same. Goa needs a bill where the law enforcement authorities have the power to arrest anyone making inflammatory speeches or for that matter stirring up communal discord. It should be given the power to place under house arrest known trouble makers and for that matter the right to takeover any religious place which is known to ferment religious trouble or which is being used as a base to stir up communal tension. Many will say that this will be too draconian and will violate religious freedom but what is at stake here. People’s lives and property which is in danger due to few vested interests. And it should be in place because those who stir up the trouble do not get affected. It is the ordinary man who loses everything, it is the ordinary man who has to run from pillar to post and it is the ordinary man who has to try and find his future in the ashes. It is to protect these people, the innocent and to ensure that the social fabric of the state is maintained that Goa has to have some measures to stop it before it can erupt. Because all it takes is one spark and Goa cannot afford that spark.
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