FIR against political leaders, activists for Sept 19 protest

PANAJI

A day after recording the statement of activist Rama Kankonkar, the Panaji police have registered a First Information Report against Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai and about 450 others for their alleged role in rioting and unlawful assembly during a protest on September 19. 

The police complaint, lodged by Panaji Police Inspector Vijaykumar Chodankar, alleged that the demonstrators held an unauthorised gathering at Azad Maidan, after which they marched towards the police headquarters and then to the official residence of the Chief Minister at Altinho, obstructing roads and causing public inconvenience.

The FIR also names AAP President Amit Palekar, Congress President Amit Patkar, Revolutionary Goans Chief Manoj Parab, MLAs Viresh Borkar (RG) and Venzy Viegas (AAP), and former MLAs Prasad Gaonkar, Prakash Velip, and Girish Chodankar, as well as social activists and other unidentified persons.  

The September 19 protest was held against the assault on the activist the previous day. The case saw the arrest of eight persons, including seven history sheeters, for attempt to murder. Hundreds of people, led by opposition leaders, took to the streets, demanding justice, even as it led to traffic chaos for several hours, inconveniencing the public and other emergency services.

According to the FIR, while the protesters were stopped outside the police headquarters and met the SP (North), some among them proceeded towards Altinho and a section diverted to the BJP office, where they had a confrontation with the staff. The complaint further alleged that the protestors did not have prior permission from the competent authority and that they obstructed public movement.  

Reacting to the FIR, Alemao said an action against those demanding justice for Kankonkar was predictable while slamming the state government for using the police to intimidate dissent. “BJP wants to shut our voices by using police machinery. We will not stop and demand justice,” he said, adding that the FIR, filed 11 days after the protest, would not deter the movement.

Sardesai responded in a similar vein, saying, “FIRs won’t silence Goa, they only expose the BJP’s fear. The BJP government thinks FIRs can intimidate me, fellow opposition MLAs, and the 450 brave Goemkars who stood up against injustice. But let it be clear — we will never be silenced. The real FIR will be filed by the people of Goa, against Gundaraj, arrogance, and betrayal of democracy.”

Police sources said the FIR has been registered under provisions relating to unlawful assembly and public order offences, and further action will follow as the probe proceeds.