Protest follows assault of family at Mandrem and claim of police inaction
A group of people gathered along the Banda-Patradevi stretch of NH66 highway.
PERNEM
A group of people from Sawantwadi blocked the Banda-Patradevi stretch of NH66 highway on Monday evening after accusing Goa police of failing to take any action after a family was reportedly assaulted in Mandrem on Sunday.
According to them, a family from Sawantwadi was proceeding for a picnic to Mandrem beach on Sunday when an oncoming vehicle driven by a driver, who was allegedly inebriated, struck their vehicle.
The family claimed that when they stopped their vehicle and confronted the driver, a group of onlookers gathered at the site became aggressive and assaulted them while also snatching their mobile phone. The family also stated that though they called the police to report the matter, the police did not take any action.
Accusing Goa police of failing to take action in the matter, a group of people from Sawantwadi blocked the NH66 highway for about an hour at the Patradevi-Banda border area on Monday, disrupting traffic along the route.
Initially, motorists were unaware of the reason for the sudden traffic blockage, and the agitating youth then narrated the incident.
Sindhudurg police officials rushed to the site and discussed the matter with the protestors, explaining that they had no right to block the national highway. After talks, the road blockade was cleared when the protestors dispersed from the site.
Later, when contacted, Mandrem Police Inspector Girendra Naik stated that no complaint regarding any assault on the Sawantwadi family had been received at the Mandrem police station.
