Team Goemkarponn
Valpoi: Tensions have flared in Valpoi after a shop on the Valpoi–Thane road displayed a sign promoting “Pakistani dresses.” The advertisement triggered strong reactions from locals, who approached the Valpoi police demanding immediate action against the shop owner.
Residents have also called on the Valpoi Municipal Council to revoke the shop’s trade license and any related permits. The police have confirmed that the shop owner has been summoned for questioning on Friday at 11 am.
The sign, placed near a mosque, quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage among citizens. Many expressed that promoting items associated with Pakistan in India is offensive and undermines national pride.
On Thursday, a group of local residents, led by Rishabh Mayekar, staged a protest at the police station. They urged authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future and raised concerns that the advertisement could be a deliberate attempt to provoke unrest in the community.
Mayekar told reporters that placing such a sign in a peaceful area like Valpoi could incite anger and suspicion among residents, suggesting the possibility of a wider agenda behind the act.
