TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: South Goa District Magistrate, Venancio Furtado (along with his counterpart in North Goa Mihir Vardhan) has banned entry of Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik and his associates in the district on the ground that his entry will promote enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and culture of Goa.
The ban will be for an initial period of two months unless the order is extended further upon prior approval of the government.
Though the Magistrate’s order is silent on the period for which the order will remain in force in the district, district Magistrate Venancio Furtado said the Cr P C is very clear that all orders issued under the code remains in force for 60 days. “Whether the order will be extended or not for a further period will depend on the government,” Furtado said. The Collector’s order was based on SP Shekhar Prabhudesai’s report which relied on past activities of the Sri Ram Sene which has supported the apprehension that the entry of Muthalik and his workers in the district will lead to breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity which may cause annoyance or danger to human life and safety. “I am of the opinion that the order under section 144 of the Cr P C should be issued in public interest to prevent occurrence of any untoward situation leading to unrest in the society and to maintain orderly peaceful situation in South Goa district,” the district Magistrate stated in his order, while prohibiting Muthalik and his men from entry into the district.
That the government moved fast on the issue became evident that the district magistrate has issued the order under section 144 of the Cr P C within 24 hours from the receipt of the report from the district police chief.
The entry of Muthalik and his workers in the district will lead to breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity which may cause annoyance or danger to human life and safety
– extract from SP South Shekhar Prabhudessai’s report
