Panjim: Atancio Lobo, who shot to fame after floating a controversial online petition seeking liberation for Goa from “Indian invasion”, might soon have Goa Police at its doorstep in Canada.
Online petition
Lobo’s petition that garnered over 4,500 signatories is based in Canada with the investigation team making every effort to reach out to him following govt protocol.
“He is currently based in Canada. Once we get sufficient material on record, we will accordingly proceed… We are trying to get as much material (evidence) against him…” said a senior officer.
The Crime Branch in May registered an FIR against Lobo for the online petition addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and others, demanding that Goa needs to be freed from “Indian invasion” and “illegal occupation.”
Sources said, a panicked Lobo allegedly deleted the online petition on being informed by his “well wishers” that he had been booked under serious charges of section 124 A (sedition) read with 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of pace) of IPC.
“Although his posts were deleted, the investigation team had recorded the evidence. He will be interrogated and formalities to reach out to him through the govts of both the countries, will begin. As of now, investigation continues and the process to identify the signatories is also underway,” said the officer, clearly indicating that the signatories have also come under the radar of the police. “Some have also been quizzed”, he added.
Fake messages
At a time when the entire police force is busy carrying out multiple tasks and duty in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown, offenses through online forum and other criminal activities have further kept the police on its toes.
In another offense registered during the lockdown, the Crime Branch has zeroed in on a suspect who reportedly was an integral part of spreading fake WhatsApp message on community transmission of COVID-19.
The officer said that a local has been quizzed at least twice so far and his mobile phone is submitted to the FSL, Verna for forensic examination. The investigation team has however ruled out arrest in the case. “This probe requires manual tracing since the fake message was circulated through WhatsApp. A person has been quizzed and his mobile is seized for further probe,” he said, while denying divulging case details.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had filed a complaint against the fake message circulating on how (COVID-19) community transmission has begun in Goa. He had also taken to the social media mentioning that the fake message was being circulated with his photo. A case under section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of IPC was soon registered.
Mickky’s case
As the trend on the use of online medium being used to allegedly spread misinformation emerges, the Crime Branch in a latest example has taken suo motu into a similar offense against ex-minister Mickky Pacheco. A FIR under sections 504 and 188 of IPC has been registered based on allegations against the police and administration, which Mickky had made at press briefings and in the videos, which are in circulation. While he is soon to be interrogated, the Crime Branch team is also contemplating quizzing journalists who attended his press conferences. “All relevant witnesses will be quizzed,” an officer added.
School students
Just when the investigation team was busy probing these cases, another complaint by a school management against its own students surfaced. As per the complaint, which was initially filed through the online portal, students had morphed pictures of their teachers conducting online classes.
