Goa Police File FIR Against Four Protesters for Disrupting Assembly Session
In a significant development, Porvorim police on Saturday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against four persons for allegedly causing a disturbance during the first day of the budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The protesters, who were seated in the visitors’ gallery, displayed placards and shouted slogans against the bandhara project at Mirabag, leading to legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Details of the FIR and Charges
The FIR names the accused as Hemant Bhandari, Umesh Naik, Upendra Naik, and Appa Naik. They have been charged with multiple offences under the BNS, including:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Criminal trespass
- Voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties
- Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty
These charges highlight the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident, as it disrupted the official proceedings of the House.
Complaint from Assembly Secretary
In a formal complaint to the director general of police, the secretary of the assembly stated, "...while the speaker was in the chair, certain persons seated in the visitors’ gallery raised slogans and displayed posters, thereby causing disturbance to the proceedings of the House." The secretary emphasized that such conduct was viewed with utmost seriousness by the speaker, underscoring the importance of maintaining decorum during legislative sessions.
The protest targeted the bandhara project at Mirabag, a local infrastructure initiative, but the focus of the FIR is on the disruption caused rather than the content of the protest. This incident serves as a reminder of the legal boundaries surrounding public demonstrations in official settings.
