MARGAO
Normal life at the northern entrance to the commercial capital was affected throughout Saturday after hundreds of protestors blocked the entire stretch of the main road between the Old market circle to the Margao KTC bus stand.
Demanding the immediate arrest of Subhash Velingkar, the protestors staged road blockade for 12-long hours at three places, Old market circle, at the KTC bus stand and near the Collectorate building, disrupting all vehicular traffic. Resultantly, traffic entering the city via the Margao KTC bus stand towards the Old market circle came to a total halt since morning till late Saturday evening.
Resuming the agitation on Saturday morning after a road blockade at the Old market circle past midnight, the protestors took out a morcha from the Margao police station after being informed that the police has not arrested Velingkar. The protestors went through the city thoroughfare along the old Hospicio road, before halting at the Old market circle.
The protestors first block the Old market circles from all sides and after realising that police has diverted the traffic via the nearby SGDPA market road, another blockade was set up at the entrance to the PDA market complex. The protestors moved further north and blocked the road outside the KTC bus stand, blocking the entry and exit of the buses. Another blockade was set up at the junction near the Collectorate building. Some of the protestors blocked the traffic near the district hospital road.
Led by activists Pratima Coutinho, Fidol, besides a number of activists, the protestors vowed to continue the struggle till Velingkar is arrested by the Bicholim police.
The road block along the Old market-KTC bus stand-Collectorate road caught citizens, including students, tourists and the common man unawares.
With the protestors insisting on the blockade till the police arrest Velingkar for hurting the religious sentiments over his remarks on St Francis Xavier, they came face to face with motorists at the three points.
Only ambulances were allowed to move along the Old market circle-KTC road. Heated exchanges could be seen between the protestors and the police along the stretch of the road.
People from Arambol, besides Canacona, Curchorem, Sanguem and other places descended at Margao to express their solidarity with the people demanding Velingkar’s arrest.
