In a decisive move reflecting public outrage, the Socorro village panchayat in Goa has initiated the process of sealing the house of a man arrested for the alleged rape of a six-year-old child. The action came after intense protests from local residents who demanded the family of the accused vacate the neighbourhood.
Panchayat Acts on Public Demand
The panchayat officials placed a formal notice on the door of the now-vacant house on Wednesday, giving the accused's family a seven-day ultimatum to leave the premises. This step was taken directly in response to the demands of the villagers, who gathered in large numbers outside the house on Tuesday evening as news of the arrest spread.
The middle-aged accused was reportedly engaged to drop the six-year-old survivor to school. Fearing for the safety of their own children, especially upon the accused's potential release from police custody, the neighbours insisted that his family should not continue living in the area. The situation escalated, prompting panchayat officials and police to rush to the site to control the crowd.
Family Evacuated Amid Safety Concerns
During the peak of the protests, the accused's wife, daughter, and a relative were inside the house. With a mob surrounding their home, the family left the premises the same evening under police protection for their own safety. By the time panchayat members arrived on Wednesday to serve the eviction notice, the house was already empty, leading them to affix the notice to the door.
A panchayat member provided crucial context about the property. "The house was constructed under a government scheme and therefore cannot be sold," the member explained. "But the person to whom the house was allotted had given it to the accused to stay. In such cases, a lease agreement is made to allow a non-allottee to stay in the house, though we are not sure what agreement was reached between the parties. The accused and his family were accordingly living in the premises for the last three years."
Official Notice Cites Public Fear and Insecurity
The notice served by the panchayat clearly states the reason for the action. It mentions that a serious criminal complaint of child abuse was registered against the accused, which has "caused fear, disturbance, and insecurity among the general public" of the village.
Elaborating on the precautionary measure, the panchayat member said, "The neighbours want the family to leave the house. So we have to serve the notice to them as a precautionary measure. If any untoward situation happens due to a mob, who will be responsible? We have told his family to shift their things out, and they have agreed to do so within seven days."
The case has sent shockwaves through the quiet village, highlighting community-driven actions in the wake of heinous crimes. The panchayat's intervention underscores the severe social repercussions faced by the accused's family and the intense demand for collective security from local residents.
