PANAJI
More than 300 participants of the October 11 protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) affiliate in Panaji could face legal scrutiny after the police registered an FIR against "unknown protesters" for allegedly promoting enmity, disturbing communal harmony and hurting religious sentiments.
The case was registered following a complaint by a Taleigao resident, who alleged that certain slogans raised during the protest targeted a community and were intended to disrupt peace and harmony. Police said investigations are underway to identify those responsible. Panaji Police Inspector Vijay Chodankar stated that the accused would be named once inquiries are completed. The development comes a week after seven protesters were detained during the demonstration, called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It was originally planned at Azad Maidan. However, after police blocked access to the venue, demonstrators shifted to the nearby Garcia de Orta garden.
The gathering had drawn several prominent personalities, including former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello, environmentalists Claude and Norma Alvares, and AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik among others. Tensions escalated when seven protesters breached a police cordon and entered Azad Maidan carrying the national flag and were detained. Among those detained was AAP leader and Corporation of the City of Panaji councillor Jack Sukhija.
The detainees were released later that night after the Bombay High Court at Goa, hearing a habeas corpus petition filed on their behalf, directed the police to set them free, observing that the detention may not have been authorised. The FIR follows circulation of videos on social media allegedly showing communal slogans at the protest. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had subsequently ordered an inquiry, warning that attempts to disturb communal harmony in the state would not be tolerated.
