South Goa Administration Postpones Removal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue Citing Police Force Shortage
In a significant development, South Goa collector Egna Cleetus announced on Thursday that the administration remains fully committed to complying with the Bombay High Court's directives regarding the removal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Sada, Vasco. However, she clarified that the scheduled removal for Thursday has been deferred due to a critical shortage of armed police personnel.
Police Deployment for Election Duty Creates Security Void
The collector explained that the deferral was necessitated by the unavailability of adequate armed forces, as twelve companies of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel have been deployed outside the state for election duties. "We don't have an adequate number of armed forces to deploy there because 12 companies of IRB personnel have gone for election duty (outside the state). We are deferring it until they return," Cleetus told media representatives.
This assessment was corroborated by South Goa superintendent of police Santosh Dessai, who emphasized law and order concerns. Dessai noted that the administration would be left with insufficient reinforcement if emergencies arose during the removal operation. Police teams have specifically been deployed to Assam and West Bengal to support election security arrangements.
Public Opposition and Political Criticism Mount
The decision to postpone the statue removal has sparked criticism from various quarters. Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar had earlier warned that large crowds would gather to oppose the removal, stating that the decision had deeply hurt public sentiments and that local residents strongly objected to it.
When questioned about potential peaceful resolution of the contentious issue, Cleetus revealed that no formal proposals had been received from any stakeholders. The Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) had originally proposed removing the statue on Thursday in compliance with High Court directions, but a high-level meeting chaired by the collector on Wednesday decided to postpone the exercise.
High Court's Stern Observations and Legal Background
The Bombay High Court had recently criticized the state government for its inaction regarding what it termed a "clear invasion of property of a major port." The court directed authorities to provide the MPA with all necessary assistance, including armed security and prohibitory orders, to maintain public order and facilitate removal of the illegally erected statue.
In strong language, the court observed: "The state has acted as a mere bystander and has in fact tacitly colluded with the perpetrators of the invasion without offering any assistance to prevent the criminal trespass."
Legal Proceedings and Property Dispute
The MPA had filed an application in the High Court alleging forceful entry onto its land and the illegal erection of a permanent statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in February. The port authority had written to police seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR), with the complaint naming MLA Sankalp Amonkar among others who allegedly criminally trespassed onto MPA property and unveiled the statue.
Collector Cleetus stated that a fresh date for the statue removal would be determined after thorough assessment of the situation, particularly regarding the availability of adequate security forces. The administration maintains its commitment to implementing the High Court's directives while ensuring public safety and order during the sensitive operation.
