-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM MARCH 9: The dispute between two groups at Mahamaya Devasthan Mayem took an ugly turn today with the mob attacking some of the reporters at the site. It may be recalled that today being the annual Kalsotsav the people from various places had gathered near the Mahamaya devasthan Mayem. Every year the kalash of goddess Mahamaya is carried out in a procession and during the seven days festival it goes to each and every house of Mayem. But, this tradition was interrupted since last year after a small rift between Parab group and Naik group from the village. Both the groups demanded that they have the sole right to handle the Kalash of the goddess. Parab were of the opinion that it is their right while the Naik group demanded that they should have equal right over the religious ceremony. After the controversy last year the deputy collector stopped the celebrations. This year sighting law and order problem the deputy collector, Narendra Gad along with the police were present at the site. In the evening both the groups assembled at the temple and the deputy collector tried to resolve the issue. As the discussions were going on the mob got violent looking at the media present at the site. One of the person started giving bad words and attacked the reporter of Prudent, Uday Parab who fell on the ground. Just then the entire mob got furious and rushed towards the other reporters present there. In the incident Uday Parab got injuries on his hand and leg while his camera was also damaged. The others including Vishant Vaze, Sudesh Mayekar and Sandeep Desai managed to save themselves from the fury as one of the person from the mob subdued their attack. The attack was such that some of the villagers also lifted stones to throw it on the reporters. The Deputy collector of Bicholim was later forced to cancel this year's Kalasotsav due to the non co-operation from Naik and Parab group and also due to the tension mounted in the village. Bicholim mamlatdar, Pramod Bhat, Joint mamlatdar Gurudas Desai and NIpanikar and PI Harish Madkaikar along with a police force of around 150 police personells were also present on the occasion. The Bicholim Patrakar Sangh convened a meeting following an attack over the reporters at Mayem Bicholim and denounced the act of the villagers. It may be stated that Uday Parab (Prudent), Vishant Vaze (journalist), Sandeep Desai (photographer -Gomantak) and Sudesh Mayekar(Inn Goa) who went to cover the event at Mahamaya devasthan were attacked by the people. In the evening Uday Parab told about the incident and expressed great concern over the issue and told that it is an attack over the freedom of the expression. The president of the sangh, Durgadas Garde also came down heavily over the attack and told that the attackers would be called to the police station and would be strictly delt with. "We would not allow such things to happen and we would urge the police to look into the matter" Garde told "it was a shameful act of the villagers and the journalist who went to cover the event were made scapegoat when the real controversy was between two groups." Vishant Vaze who also spoke on the occasion also condemned the attack and called it as an attack on the fourth pillar of democracy. Reporters including Rajesh Chodankar, Raviraj Chari, Ramesh Sawaikar were present for the meeting.