Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Police have cited previous demonstrations at Panaji’s Azad Maidan as part of their justification for refusing permission to a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-affiliated group to hold a protest on October 11. The police explanation, submitted before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, includes an incident in which a demonstrator allegedly displayed a placard mentioning jailed activist Umar Khalid.
The proposed demonstration was intended to seek the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Although the organisers applied for permission on October 7, the North Goa District Magistrate rejected the request on October 9 after receiving an unfavourable recommendation from the district police.
In its affidavit, the police referred to two gatherings held at Azad Maidan in July amid demands for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET examination controversy.
Police alleged that a demonstration on July 20 had been conducted without prior approval and that an FIR was registered in connection with the gathering.
The department also described a separate protest on July 25. According to the affidavit, one participant displayed a placard bearing the names of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and the Bhima Koregaon 16. The participant was also carrying a bag with a slogan supporting Palestinian freedom.
Police stated that the demonstrator was taken for questioning and asked to explain the material displayed during the gathering. The affidavit said he maintained that his participation reflected his commitment to justice and accountability.
He was subsequently placed in preventive custody under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and released the next day.
Despite the rejection of the application for the October 11 gathering, protesters assembled at Azad Maidan, where seven people were detained. A habeas corpus petition was then brought before the High Court to challenge their detention.
The court had ordered the release of all seven individuals on Sunday night, observing that the legal authority for their detention might be lacking.
