MARGAO: Vasco Police arrested two members of Revolutionary Goans namely Suraj Naik and Vishvesh Naik for allegedly “encroaching” the road by selling their goods at the Vasco Saptah fair.
Manoj Parab of Revolutionary Goans claimed that they had paid Rs 20,000 for a stall but some migrants placed their goods for sale along the road in front of their stall.
“We also put our table on the road next to where the migrants were selling their goods. The police came and kicked their table and threatened them to remove their stall”, Parab alleged.
The police went back and the matter ended. However, the police later returned and arrested Suraj and Visvesh.
People took to social media in support of Revolutionary Goans.
One Floriano Fernandes commented: “So sad for Goa and Goans. Bhavanno amchea policenno tumi amchea bekar Goenchea tornatteak kiteak sottaita. Amchea burgeank ami voir kaddunk zaich.”
When Herald tried to contact the two arrested Goan youth, their phones were switched off.
PI Nolasco Raposo informed Herald that the two youth had put their table on the road and were selling their items.
“They were requested by our staff accompanied by the municipal officials to remove it but they refused to do so and tried to argue with the police and challenged the cops to do whatever they can”.
He said the two youth turned aggressive and that’s the reason why they were placed under preventive arrest under Section 151 of CrPC.
PI Raposo claimed to have the CCTV footage. When asked whether the two youth were the only ones selling goods along the road, the PI replied saying that when others do such things and see the police, they run.
Interestingly, the police have not booked anyone for encroaching upon the road at the Saptah fair on Sunday.
“If the two youth had to inform the authorities about the other encroachers, we would have cleared them”, he added.
