Tensions flared across Salcete on Mon day as police intercepted buses ferrying citizens to a major public meeting at Azad Maidan, Panjim. The crackdown, reported in Raia, Benaulim, and Cun colim, sparked immediate protests and allegations of high-handedness from sup porters travelling to back Siridao-Palem locals and voice their opposition to the controversial Section 39A of the TCP Act. In Benaulim, MLAs Ven zy Viegas and Cruz Silva were also stopped while proceeding towards Pan jim. Viegas criticised the government and the po lice, alleging that unnec essary obstacles were being created to prevent people from attending the meeting. At Raia, a large number of residents had gath ered to travel to Panjim when a police team led by Maina-Curtorim Po lice Inspector Kapil Naik reached the spot and stopped the buses from moving ahead. The action led to heated exchanges between police personnel and citizens. Several participants al leged that they were pre vented from travelling without any valid reason. “This is total dictatorship by the government and the police. Without any rea sons we have been stopped. Without any written or ders, police are doing dada giri. This is not acceptable in Goa,” said one of the cit izens. Protesters claimed that their democratic right to attend a peaceful public meeting was being cur tailed. Some raised slogans condemning what they termed as “high-handed” behaviour by the authori ties. A similar situation was reported in Cuncolim, where buses carrying cit izens to the protest venue were allegedly stopped by the police. Those on board said they were unable to proceed to Panjim due to the intervention. “We were going to Pan jim to support Siridao Palem villagers as true Goans. There is no respect for citizens or even elected representatives. This is dic tatorship,” alleged another participant. Some protest ers also criticised the BJP led government, accusing it of suppressing dissent and restricting democratic ex pression. Meanwhile, police sources stated that the decision to halt the bus es was taken in view of the possibility of law and-order issues. Ac cording to officials, the preventive measures were implemented to avoid any untoward in cidents and to maintain public order.
TENSIONS IN SALCETE AS COPS HALT PANJIM-BOUND BUSES
