Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has strongly condemned the alleged manhandling of young woman protester Amreen Shaikh at Azad Maidan on Sunday, demanding an impartial inquiry into the police action and clarity on who ordered the detention of protesters when no prohibitory orders were reportedly in force.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Goa Mahila Congress president Dr Pratiksha Khalap, along with Congress spokespersons Adv Amit Palekar and Samil Volvoikar, accused the BJP-led state government of using the police machinery to suppress peaceful demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Dr Khalap described the alleged manhandling of Shaikh as shameful and questioned the manner in which the police reportedly dragged the protester by her arms and legs while removing her from the protest site.
She held the BJP government and Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, responsible for the incident and demanded action against those involved.
“The Mahila Congress condemns this blatant disrespect toward a young woman. We demand an impartial inquiry to identify who ordered the manhandling of protesters, and those responsible must be taken to task,” Khalap said, adding that the government must ensure such incidents do not recur and that established rules and norms are followed.
Adv Palekar alleged that the authorities had failed to explain the legal basis for the heavy police deployment and action against protesters at Azad Maidan. He maintained that no prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been promulgated.
Citing Article 19 of the Constitution, Palekar said peaceful protest was a fundamental right and accused the government of attempting to stifle dissent. He also referred to observations made by the High Court on Sunday, which, according to him, indicated that no prohibitory orders appeared to be in force.
Palekar further alleged that a woman activist’s clothes were torn while she was being forcibly removed and demanded accountability from the government, magistrate and police authorities over the detention orders.
Congress spokesperson Samil Volvoikar expressed solidarity with the student- and youth-led demonstrations, accusing the state government of deploying police against protesters instead of prioritising crime prevention.
Volvoikar also raised concerns over rising crime, including rape and drug-related offences, and alleged that the police were being used to shield the BJP from criticism over electoral irregularities.
The Congress leaders reiterated their support for peaceful demonstrations and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, urging the state government to respect citizens’ constitutional rights and ensure accountability for the alleged police excesses.
