MARGAO: Around 1500 people gathered near the residence of the former tourism minister, Mr Francisco Pacheco on Thursday evening and expressed solidarity with him in facing what they termed as ‘police harassment’.

The gathering consisting mostly of residents from the Benaulim constituency and some persons from Loutolim and Verna expressed solidarity with the minister and his former special officer on duty Mr Lyndon Monteiro, confirmed a Zilla panchayat member. Another Zilla panchayat member, Mr Wilfred D’Sa disclosed that the gathering which saw some persons speaking in support of the former minister near his residence lasted for just half an hour.
Sources informed that the gathering consisting of some residents from the area and some elected representatives lasted for one full hour, wherein Zilla member from Colva Ms Nelly Rodrigues, Mr Roseferns and former sarpanch Mr Godfrey termed the case against Mr Pacheco as politically motivated.
Those gathered demanded justice for their leader. They also demanded that the case should be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Some people displayed banners and placards the case against Mr Francisco Pacheco. Some persons were seen hanging around Mr Pacheco’s house till 7.30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Benaulim-Nuvem Constituencies Action Committee (BNCAC) has strongly resented the implication of the Benaulim MLA, Mr Mickky Pacheco in the death of the young lady from Loutolim. All evidence collected clearly shows that the death was accidental and an attempt is being made for political reasons to implicate Mickky Pacheco by people afraid of his rising popularity, the committee maintained. The people of Benaulim and Nuvem constituencies are fully aware of the contribution of Mickky in the last decade to the development to the constituencies, the committee said.
The villagers are also aware of the persons who are behind the move to falsely implicate Mickky and tarnish his image. The villagers are not going to be fooled by such dirty tactics of the detractors of Mickky Pacheco, the press note released by the committee informs.