Vasco: The demolition of the illegally constructed Murgaocha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandap at the Headland-Sada junction in Mormugao was postponed on Friday after the municipal officer authorised to execute the order was hospitalised and protesters threatened self-immolation.The structure was scheduled to be demolished under heavy police protection in compliance with directions issued by the Bombay high court. However, Mormugao Municipal Council chief officer Siddhivinayak Naik, who was responsible for executing the demolition order, was absent due to health problems.Mormugao mamlatdar and executive magistrate Pravinjay Pandit said the demolition had to be deferred as Naik was the sole authority empowered to execute the order.Protesters demanded that Naik be physically present before the demolition was carried out. Pandit said he attempted to proceed with the operation in his capacity as executive magistrate, but the move was deferred amid the possibility of a law-and-order situation.A large police contingent, along with municipal staff and the demolition squad, was deployed at the site. Agitated residents gathered in front of the mandap and confronted officials as discussions continued over the implementation of the court order.Pandit said the authorities attempted to pacify the protesters and prevent the situation from escalating. He said some protesters threatened self-immolation, adding that strong public sentiments were involved in the matter.“According to the municipal engineer, Naik had been hospitalised,” Pandit told reporters.Protesters and members of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal urged the authorities to postpone the demolition until after the Ganesh festival. They said carrying out the demolition immediately would hurt religious sentiments and called on govt to consider their demand.The situation became tense as some protesters made strong statements, including threats of self-harm, in an attempt to prevent the demolition. The agitated residents urged government officials not to force them to take the law into their own hands.The protesters also demanded that the authorities bring Naik and Mormugao Planning Authority chairman to the site before proceeding with the demolition.The demolition squad had arrived at the junction with heavy police deployment to implement the Bombay high court’s order. However, amid the tense atmosphere, continued discussions with protesters and concerns over a possible law-and-order problem, officials decided to defer the operation.
