Colva Police personnel stand in front of a bus near the Dando grounds, Benaulim, preventing it from proceeding to Panaji.
MARGAO
In an action that sparked outrage and protests, Goa Police stopped several buses in various villages of Salcete while they were heading to Panaji to join the protests at Azad Maidan.
The police's "high-handedness" triggered protests as citizens objected to the move, even as the cops attributed the action to “orders” received from higher-ups.
Tension rent the air at the Dando grounds, Benaulim, when a team from Colva Police Station stopped a bus heading to Panaji. Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas questioned the police team, only to receive a standard reply that they were acting on the dictates of higher-ups.
He demanded to know the grounds on which the police were stopping the bus from leaving Benaulim when the vehicle had the necessary permit to ply from Benaulim to Panaji.
At one point, the Benaulim MLA did make an attempt by asking the bus driver to start the bus, but the police team physically stood in front of the vehicle as well as behind it. Left with no option, Venzy, along with the citizens, marched on the roads shouting slogans against the BJP government, slamming the ruling dispensation and the police force for "dictatorship".
They later boarded a bus and headed to Panaji to join the protest at Azad Maidan.
At Raia too, the Maina-Curtorim Police stopped buses from leaving the village for Panaji, bringing the people face to face with the men in uniform. Revolutionary Goans Party leader Dagley Fernandes was seen questioning Maina-Curtorim PI Kapil Nayak over the police action, with the police only saying that they were acting as per the instructions of the higher-ups.
When PI Nayak pointed out that the action had been initiated to avert a law and order situation, Dagley questioned whether the people travelling on the bus were armed with any weapons warranting the police action.
The Cuncolim Police also stopped buses at the Cuncolim bus stand arranged by Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao to transport citizens to Azad Maidan. Cuncolim Congress Block president Assis Noronha and the party workers were left stranded at the bus stand as the Cuncolim Police ordered the driver not to move the vehicle.
Police officials in the know informed that the sudden police action came after the concerned police stations received instructions from the South Goa Police headquarters to stop buses heading to Azad Maidan in Panaji. “We have only complied with the instructions issued by the police higher-ups. Even the police have no idea of the reasons behind the decision,” remarked a police officer.
