Armed police nix peaceful NH demonstration in Goa

In the angriest demonstration yet against the perceived indiscriminate widening of the two national highways and possible demolition of houses in Goa, over a thousand people defied the government ban (Section 144 of the CrPC) and marched towards the government secretariat, but were stopped on the Mandovi bridge by police.

People from all over the state poured in at Panaji’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday afternoon heeding the call of the National Highways Diversion Action Committee (NHDAC) to oppose the latest alignments of the NH 4-A and NH 17.

Despite the PWD’s ished, NHDAC has still rejected the alignments, pressing for diversions in the form of bypass roads on both highways. From Azad Maidan, the people marched towards KTC bus stand shouting slogans against the Congress government.

Their attempt to march to the government secretariat and hold a large public meeting there was foiled by a strong police force at the Mandovi bridge. Protestors sought to force their way past the police barricades but were blocked by police in riot gear. While a minor scuffle ensued, there was no violence.