First warning delivered to Fr Bismarque Dias standing from Madkaikar's constituency

The first warning has been issued to Fr Bismarque Dias. His house at St Estevam has been attacked by unknown persons who also threatened him of dire consequences if he contested the elections on March 3. Bismarque Dias is a Roman Catholic priest who has been fighting the good fight for disparate village groups fighting against ingress by mining companies and builders of mega projects all across the state. He is standing against Pandurang Madkaikar, a builder and twice elected MLA of Cumbarjua. Dias is being supported by the Pilerne Citizen's Forum and backed by Zagrut Goenkarancho Ekvott (ZGE).

There have been many representations to the Election Commission, ranging from declaring Cumbharjua constituency as a sensitive area to giving all candidates police protection.

Fr Dias informed the Press that on Thursday night between 1.15 am and 1.30 am, some unknown persons kicked his house door, hurled abuse at him and threatened him with dire consequences if he contested the elections. He said that his old mother, sister-in-law and others were present in the house and were frightened. The goons fled when he switched on the lights. That day he had urged the youth to unitedly stop those who were destroying heritage sites at Old Goa.

He has filed an FIR at the Old Goa police station stating that this was an attempt to intimidate and assault him and that it amounted to trespass, damage to property and election conspiracy.He said that politicians with money and muscle power were threatening the whole democratic process of election.