Tension grips Rumdamol after Gorakshak chief’s assault

Margao: Tension gripped Rumdamol-Davorlim on Saturday after Gorakshak Goa chief, Ravindra Redkar, was allegedly assaulted at a fast food outlet in the village, triggering heavy police deployment and a protest march by Bajrang Dal activists demanding action against illegal stalls operating near two temples.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, began when two people visiting the outlet were allegedly refused a menu card, leading to an argument. When Redkar reached the spot subsequently, he was also assaulted. He is under treatment at the South Goa District Hospital.

In the wake of the assault, Bajrang Dal activists, led by Goa division coordinator Viraj Desai, marched to the Davorlim police outpost on Saturday and submitted a memorandum demanding action against illegal non-vegetarian stalls operating in the vicinity of the Maruti Temple and Swami Samarth Temple (Samarth Gad) at Rumdamol Housing Board.

The memorandum alleged that unauthorised stalls selling non-vegetarian food, including beef, were in operation near the two places of worship, causing resentment among devotees and disturbing the religious atmosphere. It further raised concerns about sanitation, obstruction to public movement, and suspected use of unauthorised water and electricity connections, and called for verification of all licences and approvals by the authorities concerned .

Following the incident, the fast food outlet owner voluntarily shut down and partially demolished the structure, easing tensions. A strong posse of police has been stationed at the location. Police said the suspect, Imran Raza, was placed under preventive arrest on the night of the incident itself.