Margao: A day after protesters blocked roads in Curchorem over the death of a teenager whose two-wheeler came under the wheels of a truck near a culvert work site near Ravindra Bhavan, Curchorem police on Saturday arrested social activist Dattaraj Raut Dessai, who led the protest. He was later released on bail.
He was booked under sections pertaining to unlawful assembly and obstruction of government servants on duty, among other charges. Dessai, along with 10 to 15 others, agitated demanding a detailed investigation into the accident involving a truck that allegedly killed 18-year-old Jesval Diniz on April 19.
In a related development, social activist Pradeep Kakodkar filed a written complaint with the Curchorem police against the contractor and the Public Works Department (PWD). He alleged that the agencies executed the culvert work on the public road without putting in place basic precautionary measures to alert road users — lapses he held directly responsible for the death of the teenager.
In his complaint, Kakodkar, a chartered accountant, listed a string of safety violations at the work site: no cautionary signboards or 'work in progress' indicators have been placed at a reasonable distance to alert motorists; deep excavations and construction material have been left exposed on the main carriageway without any physical barriers or reflective tapes; and no blinkers, hazard lights or reflective markers have been installed, making the stretch ‘a death trap’ for commuters at night. He further pointed out that random parking of vehicles and dumping of material at the site was causing dangerous congestion and raising the risk of head-on collisions.
Kakodkar demanded that the police conduct a site inspection to identify the hazardous spots.
In a separate matter flagged in the same complaint, Kakodkar drew the attention of the police to the drug menace in Curchorem. He said that it had become a threat to the lives and safety of youth, specifically school-going children. He urged the police to conduct night patrolling to locate the dens from which the drugs were being supplied.
Get real-time updates and result insights on the UBSE UK Board Results 2026 and CBSE 12th Result 2026. You can also check Gold Rate in Goa, Silver Rate in Goa, Bank Holidays in Goa, and Public Holidays in Goa.
