Around 300 residents file complaint before Anjuna Police
MAPUSA
In a dramatic escalation of local unrest, over 300 furious residents from Anjuna and Assagao have united to file a police complaint against legislators Michael and Delilah Lobo, accusing them of blatant abuse of power, criminal trespass and unlawful demolition of private properties – actions that have sent shockwaves across the coastal villages.
Led by Desmond Alvares, the villagers submitted a signed complaint at the Anjuna Police Station, calling for the immediate registration of an FIR against the Lobo couple, unnamed associates and contractors.
They allege large-scale illegal activities including hill cutting, road widening and demolition of homes and boundary walls in Survey Nos 198 (Assagao) and 484 to 486 (Kumar Vaddo, Anjuna), carried out without any legal authority or due process.
“This is nothing short of land grabbing under political protection. Our homes, our boundaries, our hills – everything is being destroyed before our eyes with complete disregard for the law,” said Alvares, flanked by distressed property owners.
According to the complaint, the acts of destruction took place on May 11 under the direct supervision of the Lobo couple and with the overt presence and support of the Anjuna Police.
Shockingly, the villagers claim no representatives from the Deputy Collector’s office, PWD, Panchayat or any legally authorised bodies were present – an outright violation of mandatory protocol.
Citing the Bombay High Court’s directive requiring a minimum 15-day notice before any demolition, the villagers allege that these safeguards were completely ignored.
Moreover, they referenced the Supreme Court’s guidelines from December 2024 and the Goa Government Gazette notification of December 26, 2024, both of which mandate proper land acquisition and legal procedures before any such action is undertaken.
“Their actions are criminal. This constitutes illegal trespass, destruction of property, hill cutting and road construction – all carried out using multiple JCBs and trucks under police protection, without any legal sanction,” the complaint states.
This marks the third official complaint filed against the Lobo couple at the Anjuna Police Station, with villagers now demanding a full criminal investigation under Section 329 and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
They are also demanding answers on who authorised the tarring of newly widened roads and the relocation of electrical transformers and poles, which were allegedly done in tandem with the illegal work.
The complaint further accuses the Lobo couple of misusing their political influence, trampling citizens’ rights and disregarding judicial and environmental protections.
As public outrage grows, pressure is mounting on the Anjuna Police and higher authorities to act decisively and uphold the law.
