Villagers confront police after Redkar is grilled for five hours; demand action against agencies that cleared club
PUBLIC OUTRAGE: A large number of people from coastal villages converge at the Anjuna Police Station on Sunday after Arpora Sarpanch Roshan Redkar was called in for questioning.
MAPUSA
The tragic nightclub fire at Arpora triggered immediate political upheaval on Sunday after Arpora–Nagoa Sarpanch Roshan Redkar was taken to the Anjuna Police Station and questioned for more than five hours, prompting a massive outpouring of public anger and a dramatic showdown at the police station.
Redkar had earlier this year issued a March 2025 demolition order against the controversial Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, declaring it illegal and directing that it be razed.
The order, however, was stayed by the Deputy Director of Panchayats, allowing the club – which went up in flames on Saturday, killing 25 people – to continue operations.
As news spread that the Sarpanch was being questioned, large groups of villagers from Arpora, Nagoa, Calangute and Anjuna gathered outside the police station, demanding to know why the elected head was being “targeted” while the club owners remained untouched.
The crowd later barged inside, confronting police officials and insisting that Redkar be released immediately.
Leaders of the AAP and Congress rushed to the station to support the beleaguered Sarpanch. AAP State President Amit Palekar said that detaining or questioning the Sarpanch without formal notice was “completely illegal” and demanded an explanation from the police inspector.
He argued that if the Sarpanch was being questioned, then all relevant authorities who granted permissions or clearances – including the Goa State Pollution Control Board, Fire Department, Electricity Department and FDA – should also be summoned for questioning.
The atmosphere outside the station grew heated as villagers raised slogans against the police and the BJP-led government, accusing them of shielding the nightclub owners and harassing a popularly elected representative who had “done his duty” by issuing the demolition order months before the tragedy.
Protesters also criticised the local MLA, alleging that his constituency had witnessed a proliferation of nightclubs – many of them allegedly operating without valid permissions and routinely violating noise and safety regulations.
The incident underscored the deepening political tensions and public outrage surrounding the fire tragedy, with villagers insisting that accountability must extend beyond the panchayat and include all authorities responsible for oversight and enforcement.
