Mapusa: Tension gripped Mapusa on Sunday afternoon after members of the Muslim community staged a protest outside a residential building demanding the arrest of a woman accused of abusing them. The standoff, which lasted over four hours, was resolved after the woman apologised at the police station following the intervention of Mapusa police.
Sources said that the accused woman had allegedly subjected members of the Muslim community to repeated verbal harassment.
The dispute stemmed from decorative lighting put up for Eid celebrations, for which permission had been obtained. Protesters alleged that despite this, the woman continued to hurl abusive and offensive remarks.
Police rushed to the scene after being alerted. The woman was escorted in a police vehicle to the Mapusa police station, as demanded by the crowd. Protesters also gathered at the station, where the woman apologised and assured that such behaviour would not be repeated. While members of the Muslim community accepted the apology, they insisted she issue a public apology as well.
This led to fresh tensions as slogans were raised outside the police station. However, officers intervened to pacify the crowd, and the situation eventually calmed. The mob later dispersed.
In the evening, Mapusa police conducted a flag march, especially in Ektanagar, to reassure residents. “We have increased patrolling and also held a flag march to ensure law and order is maintained,” said DySP Mapusa Wilson D’Souza.
