MARGAO
The Goa Police were on their toes in the sensitive Rumdamol Housing Board on Monday to maintain law and order even as the day passed off peacefully barring minor incidents on the occasion of Bakri Eid.
In the morning, a group of agitated Muslims lodged a complaint with the Margao, Fatorda and Maina-Curtorim police stations over what they termed as a derogatory post uploaded by a shop owner, hurting their religious sentiments.
After around 25-30 youngsters from the minority community went to question the shop owner, there was a minor slapping incident involving the brother of the shop owner.
As a precautionary measure, the police deployed personnel outside the establishment run by the person who uploaded the post. Complaints and counter-complaints were lodged with the police by both the parties.
In the evening, tension again rented the air when Siddesh Bhagat and his wife along with supporters reached the Housing Board to extend their wishes on Bakri Eid. Police said both groups were allegedly involved in fisticuffs before they were sent for medical examination.
The Muslim group, which had lodged complaints at the Margao, Fatorda and Maina-Curtorim police stations, said the shopkeeper tried to disturb the communal peace and amity amongst the Muslims and Hindus in the Housing Board. “We have asked the police to register offences against the shopkeeper from the Housing Board. We will come again to find out whether the police have initiated action or not,” they told the media.
South Goa District Superintendent of Police, Sunita Sawant told the media that police were deployed in strength at the Housing Board as a precautionary measure on Monday morning after the incident over the social media post. "We have received complaints and counter-complaints from both sides and the police have made arrests of persons from both sides,” she said.
Speaking of Monday evening's incident, SP Sawant informed that AAP leader Siddesh Bhagat had gone to the Rumdamol Housing Board to extend Eid wishes when he came face to face with members of another group. “We have received information that there was an altercation between members of two groups and they resorted to fisticuffs. The police referred the members of both groups for medical examination. They, however, later told the police that they had resolved their misunderstanding,” Sawant informed.
The district police chief made an appeal to the people to do nothing that would hurt the religious sentiments of other communities.
