PERNEM
While Goa government has reopened its state borders without restrictions as part of the MHA Unlock 4.0, locals from Sindhudurg protested on Tuesday to demand the reopening of the border check post at Satarda-Maharashtra.
According to reports, Goa opened up its borders since early Tuesday morning, but locals from Sindhudurg and some local BJP workers were upset to find the check-posts from Maharashtra side still closed at Satarda.
A Maharashtra police team went to the site and persuaded the locals to withdraw the strike, after assuring to discuss the matter with the district collector.
Since March 22, Goa’s borders in Pernem taluka, which include Patradevi-Banda, Naibag-Satarda, Kiranpani-Aronda and Tiracol-Redi have been closed, with police teams monitoring the check posts to prevent movement of people.
Only the Patradevi border check post on the NH66 was later opened, to permit movement of goods and supplies, after strict checks.
After over five months, the State government finally opened all its borders in Pernem taluka on Tuesday, but Maharashtra did not open its borders with Goa.
Upset with their government, the Banda BJP block leaders and locals from Satarda staged a protest for nearly two hours.
A Maharashtra police team rushed to the site and tried to pacify the protestors by assuring to open up the check posts after receiving orders from the Maharashtra government.
As a larger crowd began assembling at the site, the BJP leaders warned the police to arrive at a solution quickly before the situation went out of control.
During the lockdown, many locals from Sindhudurg have suffered a major financial setback as they have lost jobs and many of them were unable to work in Goa due to lockdown restrictions.
