Before Goa stampede that killed 6, police suggestion on CCTVs, barricades fell on deaf ears
The committee said the CCTV cameras were not installed because there wasn't enough time, and that the barricades were not set up because on a previous occasion when they were in place, they had caused injuries to devotees.
The instructions were issued during a meeting on April 30 attended by senior police and district administration officials.
Those who attended the meeting included North SP Akshat Kaushal, Bicholim SDPO Jivba Dalvi, Bicholim police station inspector Dinesh D Gadekar, Bicholim Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, Bicholim Mamlatdar Abhijeet Gaonkar, and Shree Lairai Devasthan president Shirgao Dinanath Gaonkar, as well as other members of the temple committee.
According to the minutes of the meeting, police issued instructions to the temple committee members 'to tackle any eventuality and contingency'.
The minutes said, 'Instructions were issued to the temple committee to install PA (public address) system near Lairai temple premises and homkhund (fire pit that is circled by devotees). The temple committee is also asked to install CCTV at all the entry and exit points, crowded areas, near the temple and homkhund, along with CCTV control room wherein adequate police staff would also be provided.'
'The temple committee is also requested to make necessary arrangements with regard to the maintenance of queue with proper barricading wherever required. The committee is also requested to assist police in crowd control and management during the festivity,' the minutes read.
In another joint meeting on April 16, concerns were raised about crowd control at the temple site of Mahamaya temple, homkhund and the road approaching the temple.
Temple committee president Dinanath Gaonkar said a meeting was held on April 16 in which discussions were held with various stakeholders and duties were assigned.
'Another meeting was scheduled for April 25, but it was postponed. On April 30, senior police officers came and gave (these) instructions. They said stringent action will be taken if instructions are not complied with. It takes at least 15-20 days to set up CCTVs. In two days, what can we do? Regarding the barricading (near the temple), we refused because on a previous occasion, when we had put barricades during the Jatra, some devotees had suffered injuries,' he said.
Gaonkar said all the requisite precautions had been taken by the temple committee. 'There is no mistake on our part in this regard. We have given our statement to the fact-finding committee and it is for the committee to come to a conclusion on what led to the mishap,' he said.
The Goa government on Saturday constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. The government also transferred North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte, SP Akshat Kaushal, Deputy SP Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar.
The stampede occurred between 2.45 am and 3 am, when a big crowd of devotees made their way through a steep and narrow stretch of road towards the temple. 'As the Dhonds (the devotees taking part in the Jatra) formed multiple queues, there was a lot of pushing and shoving in the crowd. One woman tripped, and due to the topography of the narrow road, several others fell, which may have led to the stampede. The fact-finding committee is recording statements of all the victims and officials and will soon submit a report,' a government official said.
Eyewitnesses on Saturday said the stampede was caused by a scuffle among the unregulated crowd on the narrow stretch leading to the temple.
The Jatra, held in honour of Goddess Lairai Devi, is attended by thousands of devotees called Dhonds. They come from across Goa and neighbouring states. In a fire-walking ritual at the Jatra, the Dhonds circle a fire pit and walk barefoot across burning embers — a spectacle that draws many spectators.
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