Parrikar wants inquiry into suspicious deaths of 4 persons

[karira]

As reported by NT Network in navhindtimes.com on 2 August 2008:
Navhind Times on the Web: Goa

Parrikar wants inquiry into suspicious deaths of 4 persons

PANAJI — The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar met the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, on Friday and asked for an inquiry into the ‘suspicious’ deaths of four persons, in the Sanguem-Quepem taluka, allegedly linked to the ongoing “illegal” mining operations in the forest area of Quepem taluka.


The inquiry should be conducted by an officer of the Indian Police Service, Mr Parrikar told the Chief Minister.


Later, addressing a press conference, Mr Parrikar alleged that “An illegal mine in the forest area of Quepem taluka, collapsed few days ago, resulting in the death of a person who was buried in the heap of mud.”


The person was later cremated, by claiming that he had suffered a heart attack, he added.


The Leader of the Opposition also alleged that the two person who were recently found dead in Rivona, had knowledge about the operations of illegal mines as well as things like detonators used in such mining operations.


“Another unclaimed body was also found in Cacora creating an atmosphere of mystery,” Mr Parrikar noted, pointing out that he receives the information from various sources, and now it is the turn of the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik to go into the details of the incident.


If illegal mining in the state is not brought under control, immediately, then it will develop into a major problem, he stated.


Mr Parrikar also condemned the move of the Congress party, wherein a sarpanch affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party was cornered into resigning as a sarpanch as well as the member of the panchayat, to join the government service.


The BJP will take up this issue of misuse of the government machinery at the higher level, he added.


Speaking further, Mr Parrikar also said that the State Information Commission has directed the concerned authorities to hand over all the details as regards the spending of the former Goa governor, Mr S C Jamir, to him.


“On more than five occasions, I tried to get this information, without any success,” he said, “And finally, the Commission has passed an order about providing the details by August 9.”


The Leader of the Opposition also said that the information will bring to light the exorbitant spending of Mr Jamir, from the state exchequer, without any accountability. “Another similar case, as regards the information sought by me under the Right to Information Act, about the audit noting of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India linked to the International Film Festival of India 2005, is before the special bench of the National Information Commission, and is set to be a landmark case,” he stated.
Mr Parrikar alleged that the details about the spending at the IFFI 2005 in the CAG Report were manipulated through political pressure, and are different from the actual audit noting.