The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) on Monday escalated its attack on the State administration by filing a formal complaint at the Panjim Police Station against the North Goa Col lector and other concerned authorities, alleging selec tive imposition of Section 163 in Panjim on January 30, 2026. GPYC President Advocate Archit Naik, accompanied by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Secretary and GPYC In-charge Swapnil Patil, Congress leaders and office bearers, alleged that the prohibitory order was enforced to prevent villagers from Chimbel from staging a peaceful protest, while a BJP function welcoming the party’s national president, Nitin Nabin, was allowed to go ahead unhindered. Speaking to reporters after filing the complaint, Naik ac cused the State of openly weaponising the law. “There is a clear misuse of the law in the State. Laws are different for the BJP and different for the people of Goa. We strongly condemn this,” he said. Naik pointed out that the order issued by the North Goa Collector explicitly prohibited the assembly of more than five persons at a place in Panjim, and alleged that it was tailored to suppress dissent. “This order was specifically is sued to stop the people of Chimbel from holding a peaceful protest in Panjim,” he alleged. Questioning the administration’s inconsistency, Naik asked whether political privilege had replaced constitu tional rights. “I want to ask whether welcoming the BJP national president was a special occasion only for the BJP in Goa and not for the people of Chimbel who wanted to protest peacefully. If people are not allowed to protest at Azad Maidan, then the government should officially notify that no protests can be held there,” he said. Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari also slammed what he described as blatant double standards in enforcing the law. “If the law is the same for everyone, then those who vi olated it should have been put behind bars. When we hold protests, we are immediately arrested, but the same does not happen in the case of BJP leaders,” he said. Bhandari further warned bureaucrats against acting as political extensions of the ruling party. “Governments may change, but bureaucrats are permanent. They must take action against anyone who violates the law. This will send a message that the administration treats everyone equally and without bias,” he said. He added that administrative orders cannot be used as shields for selective enforcement. “There can be govern ments of different political parties, but officers are perma nent and must uphold fairness,” he said. Naik said the delegation had conveyed its faith in the po lice, while urging them to resist political pressure. “We have told the police that we trust them and that they should not come under any pressure. The law must be applied equally to all. There should be a free and fair investigation, and we should get justice,” he said
Police complaint filed against Collector for misuse of law
