PANAJI
The outrage across the nation over the gang-rape of a 19-year old Dalit woman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, echoed in Goa too as dozens of concerned citizens held a candlelight vigil at dusk on Saturday and several spoke in condemnation of the episode and the Yogi Adityanath government's brazen cover-up effort at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
Although the turnout wasn't jaw-dropping, there were protesters who turned up from far and wide, including Margao and Mapusa.
The call to join the vigil was sent out only on Friday evening by a group of concerned citizens led by senior journalist Prakash Kamat and Porvorim-based motivational speaker and coach Pravin Sabnis.
The vigil was held around the martyrs memorial and was watched from afar by a posse of policemen, even as the participants ensured social distancing norms and wore masks.
Some leaders of political parties also joined in, including State Congress president, Girish Chodankar and Goa convenor of AAP Rahul Mahambre.
Speakers condemned the incident and the harassment of the victim's family by the UP administration, including her cremation at night without consent.
