Police in riot gear take position at the old market circle on Sunday evening.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Two-wheeler riders came under attack from the protestors demanding the arrest of Subhash Velingkar in Margao when they insisted on crossing the road, only to face assault.
A two-wheeler rider was thrashed with his helmet by a group of protestors when he insisted on travelling by the road. In the scuffle, a group of protestors were seen assaulting the rider with his helmet, before Pratima Coutinho and others intervened.
In another incident, a two-wheeler rider was stopped from proceeding further while he was on his way to drop off a girl student, who was riding a pillion. The protestors virtually manhandled the rider before the girl student appealed to spare them from the attack.
In another video that went viral, a citizen complained that he was stopped from heading to the South Goa district hospital where his father was undergoing treatment. Besides, several vehicles and food delivery boys were stopped while they were trying to cross the road blockade.
Meanwhile, an irate lady two-wheeler rider confronted the police over the blockage of the road at Old Market. Speaking in Hindi, she demanded to know from the police whether any public notice was issued by the Goa Police suggesting the road closure. She pointed out that her rights had been violated by the protestors by blocking the road.
Blockade lifted after 12-hour protest
With the police in riot gear taking position at the Old market circle, the 12-hour road blockade, which started at around 9.30 am, was finally lifted at around 9 pm on Saturday.
Activist Pratima Coutinho told the people that she did not want any vested interests to take advantage of the situation and create a scenario wherein the movement gets a bad name. She, however, said the protestors would assemble again in Margao on Sunday at 11 am if no arrest of Subhash Velingkar took place by Sunday morning.
Pointing to the heavy presence of police in riot gear at the Old market circle, Pratima said she did not want any harm to the people who turned up in large numbers to support the agitation.
“Let us go home peacefully now. It’s now 12 hours since we had all come down to protest here. We have staged a peaceful agitation and we don’t want any miscreants to create lawn and order situation,” she said, explaining to the people the steps initiated by the police to arrest Velingkar after his interim relief was reportedly rejected by the Court.
Protesters unmoved by police appeal to clear blockade
An appeal from South Goa District Superintendent of Police Sunita Sawant to clear the road during a blockade on Saturday evening was met with resistance from protesters.
The district police chief arrived at the scene with a megaphone, urging demonstrators to disperse, but her request went unheeded.
Despite her assurance that police teams were actively searching for Subhash Velingkar, the protesters remained firm in their stance. Activists Pratima Coutinho, Fidol, and Warren Alemao emphasised that the blockade would only be lifted following Velingkar's arrest.
