PANJIM: Ten persons, who are family members of Goan seafarers stranded on board ships in different countries, were detained on Wednesday for violating Section 144 of the CrPC after they staged a hunger strike outside the Chief Minister’s official residence at Altinho.
The family members were demanding immediate action from the government to bring back the crew members. “They have been detained for violating Section 144 CrPC,” Panjim police inspector Sudesh Naik told Herald, soon after the peaceful protestors were picked up to be taken to the police station.
The protestors had earlier met Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, but with no concrete assurance, they refused to withdraw their hunger strike claiming that they were not convinced by his assurances.
Gina Pereira, whose husband is working on Royal Caribbean’s ship Symphony, which has reported the death of one of its crew members due to COVID-19 infection, led the peaceful protest.
Talking to the media before being detained, Pereira said that they decided to go on a hunger strike to grab the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
“We met CM but I am not happy with the meeting. CM has said that the issue is with the Centre. If PM will decide on the issue, then we have no other option to sit on hunger strike and get his attention,” she added.
All Goa Seafarers’ Association founder president Dixon Vaz said the family members of Goans who are working on different ships are feeling anxious seeing the situation across the globe. “They were forced to sit on hunger strike as all our efforts to convince the government to act swiftly have failed,” he added.
The detainees were released soon after completing the formalities. Talking to the media outside the police station, Pereira said they followed all the lockdown rules despite which they were detained.
“We maintained all the rules. We even obeyed the social distancing norms but we were still arrested,” she said adding, “But this is not the end. I don’t know what will be the next step but it will be the worst. Today only few have come out, but tomorrow entire Goa will be out if CM doesn’t give a decision. I don’t know who will stop them and who will arrest them,” she said.
