MARGAO
The Margao Municipal square literally resembled a fortress after the Goa police mobilised manpower from the district to foil attempts by the Popular Front of India to hold a protest meeting near the Margao Municipal building.
The police action came after the district authorities refused permission for the PFI to hold the protest meeting at the MMC square on the plea that the police has refused permission citing law and order issues. This is the second time in the last one week that the PFI’s bid to hold a protest meeting following the attachment of their bank accounts by the Enforcement Directorate has been foiled by the Goa police.
PFI leader Iftiaz Sheikh, however, said that the organisation will again apply for permission before the district authorities on Monday, saying it is the democratic right of any citizen and organisation to hold a peaceful protest. Ifitiaz said the authorities had told PFI to obtain permission from the Margao Municipal Council, Traffic police as well as from the Margao police to hold the protest meet on Friday evening, adding that none of these authorities issued the permission.
Even after the South Goa Collector, Jyoti Kumari told a PFI delegation led by Sheikh Rauf that the police has refused to give permission to hold the protest meeting at the MMC square on Friday evening, the Goa police preferred not to take any chances.
