BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
PONDA: Ponda councillor, Vincent Paul Fernandes, had a narrow escape after he was allegedly knocked down from his bike by a car, allegedly by two brothers, whose illegal structure the civic body had ordered to be demolished yesterday.
Vincent Paul, who is tipped to be the next vice-president of the Ponda civic body, told the police that the two brothers -- Daniel and Benny Fernandes -- from Silvanagar, Ponda “tried to kill him” at 5.35 pm near the Verenkar teashop on Ponda-Belgaum road.
Both the brothers are absconding, but the car used by them to knock down the councillor, was left parked in front of the police station.
Vincent Paul was riding his Bajaj bike (GA-01-P-5603) to the Ponda bus-stand and on reaching the teashop a red Maruti Swift (GA-05-B-0248) drove straight into him. Although he took to one side, the car knocked him down injuring his right leg. The car later zoomed off, police said.
The councillor was rushed to the ID hospital, while the police proceeded to the residence of the accused, but did not find the brothers there.
Vincent Paul, meanwhile, demanded stern police action against the duo, who he alleged, enjoy political patronage.
“I filed many complaints against them and they even
threatened to murder me. They built some illegal structure and the matter was in court. Today, the Chief Officer ordered demolition of the structure and this is the reason they attacked me,” Fernandes told the media.
He said if the police did not take strong action, it will only encourage anti-social elements and people will lose faith in the system. Former chairperson, Venkatesh Naik, and councillors Kishore Naik, Damodar and Pradeep Naik visited Fernandes.
Ponda police have registered a case under sections of the IPC 341 (restraining), 324 (assault), 427 (damages) and 506 (II), which is non-bailable offence for threatening to kill.
