Seven Congress MLAs including Digambar Kamat, Yuri Alemao, Kedar Naik, Altone D'costa, Michael Lobo and Carlos Ferreira arrived at Mormugao police station in Bogda with sitting MLA Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar on Sunday evening.
The Congress delegation met Deputy Superintendent of Police Sheikh Salim and Mormugao Inspector of Police Ajit Umre to understand the situation regarding the clash between rivals groups on Holi.
Clashes erupted between the supporters of political parties in the Mormugao constituency on Friday. Pradeep Mayekar, the father of Mormugao corporator Prajay Mayekar, was attacked by about 40 to 50 people while returning home and was admitted to the sub-district hospital. Nine persons have been arrested by Mormugao police in this case and 38 others are on police trail.
On the same night, Union Minister Satish Dhond and Narendra Sawaikar and Vasco MLA Daji Salkar rushed to the Mormugao police station and demanded the arrest of the rioters.
On Saturday, the caretaker Chief Minister of the state Pramod Sawant and Director of Police ID Shukla visited the injured Mayekar at the Sub-District Hospital. Sawant warned that strict action would be taken against the culprits and no one would be released.
He also criticized Congress for embracing the Trinamool Congress' culture of violence, saying it was the culture of the Congress and the TMC.
Congress alleged that the police was taking action under political pressure. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that the BJP candidate who lost the election, could not digest the defeat. "It is not right to harass innocent people for political gain. In a democracy, everyone has the right to cooperate with anyone. The police should not go outside the law and work under undue pressure," he said.
The Congress leaders also met the family members of some of the people who had been arrested in the case and assured them of support.
Michael Lobo said that the party will raise this in the assembly. "The BJP has hatched a conspiracy to make this case bigger without any need. Sawant doesn't know what he wants to do. He said he should not play on people's souls," Lobo said.