Merces assault: FIRs against seven, including Kashinath Shetye

Panaji: Old Goa police, on Saturday, registered two separate first information reports against seven people, including social activist Kashinath Shetye for an alleged assault at Merces over a public interest litigation (PIL) on land filling.

Based on the complaint of Yogesh Tigade, a 40-year-old resident of Santa Cruz, police filed an FIR against Shetye and Dominic Pereira, DySP PRO Nilesh Rane said.

Rane said Pereira and Shetye, with their common intention, went to the complainant’s property, situated at survey number 58/1 at Morombi Pequeno at Merces, Tiswadi, and demanded Rs 15 lakh in cash, on the pretext of settling the PIL on alleged land filling.

He further added that upon Tigade’s refusal to pay the money, a fight escalated between him and the accused duo who then assaulted the complainant with a wooden log, resorted to biting, etc, thereby causing him injuries.

On Shetye’s complaint, police then registered an FIR against Tigade, Saila Bela Mesta, Sharma and two other unknown persons.

According to the police, Tigade had come charging towards Shetye with a koita in his hand and assaulted Shetye, with an intention to kill him over the issue of filing the PIL before the Bombay high court. As a result, Shetye also suffered injuries on his back.