Locals stage sit-in along the way
Protesters sitting on the road and having their lunch during the sit-in agitation at Mirabag-Sanvordem on Monday.
SANGUEM
Curchorem police stopped vehicles carrying protesters at the Mirabag bridge on Monday as they headed towards Panaji for a ‘Chalo Azad Maidan’ agitation, triggering a road blockade and tension in the area.
Anticipating a large turnout, CID officials had begun visiting villages early in the morning to gather inputs, while surveillance on protesters had started the previous evening. As protesters travelled in private vehicles, police personnel blocked their movement at the bridge without giving a clear reason, stating only that they were acting on orders.
In response, hundreds of protesters, including women and children, staged a sit-in protest at the spot, blocking traffic. Many remained on the road for hours and even had their lunch there. Women expressed strong reactions, saying they had never faced such a situation before.
The incident led to anger in the area, with allegations that authorities were attempting to suppress the protest using police force without justification.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was attending the inauguration of a Primary Health Centre in Sanguem, said the proposed bandhara would not be constructed under any circumstances. However, he did not provide a written assurance.
There was also speculation that the chief minister would visit Mirabag, with informal inputs suggesting the same, but he did not make the visit.
