Colva villagers hurl eggs on Calvert, panchas
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 4 
Tension rent the air in Colva on Thursday after Colva Panch member Calvert Gonsalves, the producer of the Konkani audio CD, Dogui Bodmas, came to attend the Panchayat monthly meeting this morning under heavy police protection.
Sarpanch Angela Borges adjourned the meeting after a group of persons disrupted the proceedings by hurling eggs on the Panch members soon after Calvert left the meeting hall.
Police in riot gear led by DySP Umesh Gaonkar were deployed in strength near the Panchayat Ghar since morning in anticipation of assembly of large number of people to prevent Calvert from attending today’s meeting.
As expected, a crowd assembled near the panchayat and many more poured in after Church bells were rung before the commencement of the meeting.
Heated exchanges ensued between DySP Umesh Gaonkar and Elvis Gomes and Mathew Diniz over the large presence of the police and the ringing of Church bells just before Calvert arrived at the scene. At one point, DySP Gaonkar told Elvis to mind his language, even as the latter charged the police for failing to honour the promises made to the villagers on the CD issue.
Tension was palpable near the Panchayat Ghar when Calvert made his presence felt as he headed towards the hall to attend the meeting. A group of villagers tried to follow Calvert to the meeting hall, but were kept at bay by DySP Umesh Gaonkar, PI Santosh Desai and PI Sidhant Shirodkar.
Incidentally, Sarpanch Angela Borges refused to conduct the proceedings citing presence of police inside the hall. In fact, the Sarpanch came downstairs when Calvert made it to the meeting hall and told media that she would not start the meeting till the policemen leave the hall.
After attending the meeting for nearly 40 minutes, Calvert submitted his application for three months leave and left the hall. A group of persons waiting outside the Panchayat Ghar flung eggs on him as he was heading towards his vehicle.
In the meantime, Sarpanch Angela adjourned the meeting after a group of villagers barged inside the hall after Calvert left the venue and threw eggs on the panch members.  The villagers were apparently infuriated that the Panchas did nothing to prevent Calvert from attending the monthly meeting.
“The people came inside and made a noise over the police presence at today’s meeting. I could not conduct the proceedings due to the noise”, Angela said, the villagers had come for the meeting to discuss the malaria and dengue situation.
Meanwhile, deputy Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes squarely blamed the Sarpanch for the failure to protect the panch members at the meeting.
“The sarpanch did not give us protection when the police had specifically asked her. The meeting would not have been disrupted if the Sarpanch had asked for police protection”, he added.
Today’s meeting was significant for Calvert since he could not make it for the last two panchayat meetings. Rules provides for disqualification of a Panchayat member if he or she remains absent for more than three consecutive meeting. At the last meeting, Calvert had sent an application for three months leave, but the same was rejected by the Panchayat body.
Meanwhile, Calvert’s legal counsel, Adv Radharao Gracias has expressed his shock that the bells of the Colva Church were rung on Thursday morning for a non-religious purpose.
Adv Gracias said the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao should come down heavily on misuse of Church bells, adding “otherwise such incidents would send a wrong message that the Church is being used for political purpose”.