Protest outside police HQ over delay in action against social media posts

NT Reporter

Panaji

A tense situation prevailed outside the police headquarters on Saturday after members of the Hindu Ekta Manch staged a protest over alleged delay in action against social media users accused of posting abusive and derogatory remarks against Hindu deities.

This includes two politicians and one social activist.

The Manch has issued a three-day ultimatum to arrest the accused.

Police personnel barricaded the headquarters building to prevent protestors from entering. Police said that action is being taken, but protestors said several days had passed without arrests.

Earlier, members had gathered at Azad Maidan, opposite the police headquarters, to condemn what they said was the failure of the police to apprehend those responsible for the posts.

During the meeting, members said police should question relatives or family members of those who had posted objectionable comments. They said police had claimed to have issued lookout notices against the accused, who are believed to be outside India.

“Why not apprehend their family members the same way police acted with the Khattar brothers in connection with a similar case?” a member said. They said the protest would intensify if the accused were not arrested.

Earlier this week, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Sunil Kawthankar had said that police had not acted despite complaints being filed over posts abusing Hindu deities on social media. He had sought the intervention of Director General of Police Alok Kumar.

“Despite several complaints filed against individuals at various police stations for abusing Hindu deities on social media, thereby hurting religious sentiments, why are there no arrests made till now?” Kawthankar said.