Situation tense but under control in trouble-torn Goa

Panaji, Mar 5: The situation in the trouble-torn Curchorem-Sanvordem areas of south Goa, which witnessed a spree of communal violence, looting and arson for the last three days is reported to be tense but under control, with no reports of any untoward incident.

''The situation is better with no untoward incident reported since the last evening with intensified patrolling and precautionary measures being taken,'' Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ujjwal Mishra told UNI today.

Police, he said, suspected certain ''fundamentalist forces'' from Goa behind the violence which disrupted the peace and tranquility in an otherwise peaceful state.

He, however, refused to identify the forces and ruled out the theory of ''infiltration'' of these elements from outside the state.

The prohibitory orders had strictly been enforced in the disturbed areas.

Three companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), under the Maharashtra's Central Reserve Police Force, were on their way to the troubled areas for deployment and assistance to the civil administration to check the anti-social elements.

The trouble triggered following the demolition of an ''abandoned structure'', which was being used by a minority community for prayers, by the members of other community after the local Goddimol panchayat declared it as illegal.

The minority community, however, had obtained a stay on the panchayat's order from the Directorate of Panchayats at the eleventh hour causing friction and resulted in rioting.

UNI