Protesters opposing the proposed Karapur project have now continued their agitation to Old Goa Police Station after being detained in Panaji on Thursday. The villagers and activists vowed to continue their protest until The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) project is completely cancelled and a strict stop-work order is issued against all activities.
The protest, which followed an ultimatum issued by villagers earlier this week, reached Panaji on Goa Kranti Din. However, police blocked the protesters from proceeding towards Azad Maidan, where Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant were attending the official Goa Revolution Day programme and paying tribute to the martyrs of Goa’s freedom struggle.
The protesters alleged that several activists and villagers were detained by police as a preventive measure. “Activists and villagers were detained under Section 172 of the BNSS. Two police buses were deployed to detain the villagers,” alleged activist Swapnesh Sherlekar.
Section 172 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) requires individuals to comply with lawful directions issued by police officers for maintaining public order, preventing cognizable offences and avoiding breaches of peace.
Meanwhile, St. André MLA Viresh Borkar criticized the authorities for allegedly failing to inspect the project site despite complaints being submitted. “Even after filing a formal complaint, neither the Director of Environment nor any other concerned official visited the site for inspection. This shows they are trying to protect Abhinandan Lodha. We will take the matter to the Chief Secretary, Chief Minister and other concerned ministers and demand strict action,” Borkar said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai urged the police to stop bullying,“This needs to be stated clearly, and all political parties should support this.We must all unite for this issue and call out the bullying of the Goagovernment, and I think we need to call it out today itself.”
The protesters have now relocated their agitation to Old Goa PS and have reiterated their demand for the complete cancellation of the project and immediate intervention by the government.
