MARGAO
Tension rent the air at the district police headquarters here on Saturday morning after agitated Muslims once again stormed the Margao police station demanding the arrest of the culprits involved in making the derogatory remarks at Prophet Muhammad.
The protestors blocked the road in front of the police headquarters, paralysing traffic around the area during the peak school hours.
After protesting at the police stations at Maina-Curtorim, Fatorda and Margao late Friday night, Muslims descended in large numbers at the entrance to the district police headquarters demanding action against the persons involved in the post on social media.
Sensing trouble, the police manned the entrance to the district headquarters with a human barricade. The entry to the headquarters from the fire station side was also shut as a precautionary measure.
While Sub-divisional Police officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai along with police force from Margao police sub-division monitored the situation, the Goa police drafted the SDPO, Vasco, DySP Salim Sheikh to Margao as a precautionary measure.
The protestors refused to leave the area, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the matter. “We will not leave the place till the police nab the culprits who have passed derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad”, the protestors repeatedly thundered outside the headquarters.
DySP Santosh Desai tried to make the leaders of the community see reason, reassuring them that they have registered a FIR against unknown persons for making the derogatory comments.
Both DySP Santosh and DySP Salim Sheikh made repeated attempts to the people to understand that investigations into the case is technical in nature given that the culprits have used the social media platform to make the comments.
While ruling out the possibility of effecting any immediate arrests, DySP Santosh assured the protestors that they can come at any time and on any day to find out the status of the investigations.
It was only after 1.30 pm that the protestors vacated the entrance to the police headquarters before heading towards the Masjid at Malbhat in a rally.
DySP Santosh later told media that the Margao police registered a FIR against unknown persons in connection with the incident. “Investigations in such matters is carried out by experts, including officials in charge of the Cyber Cell”, he said.
DySP Salim, while addressing the crowd, said the police is committed to nab the culprit involved in making derogatory comments against Prophet Mohammed. “The experts are on the job to nab the accused. Give the police some time to investigate”, he said, while urging the crowd to disperse.
