PANAJI: An aspiring candidate for the March 3 state assembly elections, Father Bismarque Dias, contesting as an independent candidate from Cumbharjua and backed by Zagrut Goenkarancho Ekvott (ZGE) and supported by Pilerne Citizen’s Forum (PCF), has demanded police protection till the election ends, after his house in St Estevam was attacked by some unknown persons, who also threatened him if he contested the elections.

Fr Dias has also urged the Election Commission to declare Cumbharjua constituency as a sensitive area. The Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Narayan S Navati confirmed that Fr Dias has sought protection after he was threatened and added that as per the standing electoral instructions, lives of all those contesting the elections have to be protected. Mr Navati said that if a real threat to the life of Fr Dias was made out, then the election officials would direct the state authorities to provide cover to him.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Fr Dias said that on Thursday night between 1.15 am and 1.30 am, some unknown persons kicked his house door, hurled abuses at him and threatened him with dire consequences if he contested the elections. He said that his old mother, sister-in-law and others in the house were terrified. Fr Dias further said that once he switched on the lights, the culprits ran away.

In a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Old Goa police station on Friday morning, Fr Dias said that it was an attempt to intimidate and assault him and that it amounted to trespass, damage to property and election conspiracy.

Terming it as an anti-democratic intimidating act, he said that politicians with money and muscle power were threatening the whole democratic process of election.

Explaining more on the attack, Fr Dias said that on Thursday evening after attending a meeting where he urged the youths to unite against those destroying heritage sites at Old Goa, he went home and slept but was shocked to hear from his sister-in-law that some people were violently knocking and kicking the house door. He said that the culprits also broke some flower pots outside his house.

Addressing a press conference on Friday afternoon, the Joint CEO, Mr Navati said that a delegation of the well-wishers of Fr Dias met him and sought protection to him and six others of his group, who were likely to contest the general elections to the state assembly.

He also said that the delegation also demanded that the Cumbharjua constituency be declared sensitive in view of Thursday night’s development and based on police report the election authorities could declare it as a sensitive constituency.

Mr Navati also said that the CEO had directed the state authorities to review the security of the people and not to withdraw it. The security threat is judged by a committee of senior officials of the state administration and decision to enhance or reduce the security was taken on the gravity of threat.

Meanwhile, the Pilerne Citizens Forum’s Mr Prakash Bandodkar said that the attack on Fr Dias was an anti-democratic act and an attack on the state and its peace loving people. He demanded that the culprits be brought to book within 24 hours. He further said that the priest was not a politician and that he had entered into politics to save and protect the interests of Goa and Goans. He said that the ZGE was not scared of such intimidations and acts of vandalisation and added that Fr Dias would not withdraw from contesting the polls.

The PCF’s legal advisor, Mr Yatish Naik said that they have submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission. He demanded that action be taken against the culprits and security be provided to the contestants.