Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira and Capt Viriato Fernandes along with their legal team outside the District and Sessions Court in Panaji.
PANAJI
The North Goa Sessions Court on Friday quashed the charges against Goencho Avaz convenor Viriato Fernandes and Fr Bolmax Pereira among others and the order of the Tiswadi Sub-Divisional magistrate on the basis of which activists and students were detained in the capital on Liberation Day.
Judge Irshad Agha had earlier reserved his orders for Friday after hearing arguments on behalf of Fernandes and Fr Pereira, and also the government pleader.
The suit filed by Frernandes and Dr Pereira had sought quashing of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's order which Judge Agha allowed.
Fr Pereira and Viriato Fernandes were arrested by the Panaji Police on Liberation Day, as they gathered -- with a number of other citizens -- at the Panaji Church for a song, dance, and art celebration to mark state’s liberation from the Portuguese rule.
"Today's judgement against the SDMs order of 19 December, 2020 is a ray of hope in a state slipping into a phase of tyrannical rule, with the government using cops as bouncers," Capt Viriato said.
"By illegally detaining two peaceful activists, the cops -- under orders from the government -- shot themselves in the foot. The law enforcement agencies should not forget that the wheels of justice will someday turn 360 degrees and come to haunt them," he continued.
Father Bolmax Pereira said, "The State dispensation in Goa is in a shameful slavery. Our legislators have failed us, our Home departments are criminally manipulated for abuse of power. Today's order at the Sessions and District Court quashing, and setting aside SDM's illegal order against us gives us hope in the judiciary -- that our constitutional rights cannot be trampled forever."
Amongst those detained, a number of youth were also pushed into police vans and driven around the state -- before the vans parked at the Ponda Police Station many hours later. The action provoked deep anger across the state -- especially parents, and other concerned citizens, who were shocked by the police’s rough treatment of even children.
"The case against Fr Pereira and Capt Viriato has been quashed. That clearly shows that the government illegally tried to stifle the voice of the youth. We had only tried to celebrate our Liberation Day without posing any danger to the president. Sadly, the government was scared of us because of their own wrongdoings," stated Melroy Simoes, one of the many youth who has been speaking up for Mollem.
