Citizens rally as complaint filed over viral video inciting sexual violence
MARGAO
A group of citizens from Colva rallied behind environmental activist Judith Almeida after a video went viral wherein a call was made to strip her naked in public for taking up CRZ violations in the tourist village of Colva.
Judith on Sunday visited the Colva police station to lodge a complaint along with villagers Simon Rodrigues, Herald Fernandes and another activist.
In her complaint, Judith said the video contains highly inflammatory, abusive and threatening content targeting a public-spirited citizen involved in environmental preservation and protection of Goa.
The complaint stated that the accused person urged the public to strip her naked in public, saying this constitutes a grave and direct incitement to sexual assault. “The video has intentionally and with malafide intent, attempted to mobilise public hostility, and mob action, thereby creating a real and imminent threat to my life and safety as well as my family members. I have been specifically targeted due to my role as a public spirited citizen/ activist in a bid to silence lawful civic engagement,” she stated in her complaint.
Simon Rodrigues told the media at the Colva police station that Judith had taken up issues concerning CRZ violations without any discrimination. He said if many an illegal structure has been razed down after being taken up by Judith, it was because the structure was illegally built.
Herald Fernandes echoed similar sentiments saying that Judith has been involved in the protection of environment and exposed CRZ violations in Goa. Saying he has been closely associated with the environmental activist over the last decade and half, Herald said that Judith has been fighting to save the environment from destruction.
Judith has requested the police to investigate the call details and association of the offender, so as to understand the involvement of others and specially the involvement of individuals who have been trying to target her due to them facing the law due to her legal petitions against their illegal activities.
