Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 26: Goa Police on Saturday detained a man for allegedly displaying a "Free Umar Khalid" placard during a gathering at Azad Maidan in Panaji organised in solidarity with the protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and to mark the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to police, the incident occurred around 7 pm when protesters were raising slogans at the venue. One of the participants was reportedly carrying a placard reading, "Free Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Bhima Koregaon 16."

Police personnel stationed at the venue questioned the man after local media personnel drew attention to the placard. Officers asked him to produce an identity document, but he allegedly said he was not carrying any identification.

To prevent any law-and-order issue, the police brought the man to the Panaji Police Station for questioning. A video circulating on social media purportedly shows a police officer asking the individual to produce an identity document.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged a sit-in protest outside the Panaji Police Station, demanding that police register a case against those displaying the "Free Umar Khalid" placards during the gathering.

The latest incident comes days after another protest was held at Azad Maidan following controversial remarks by BJP vice-president Narendra Sawaikar on social media. His post referring to "cockroaches" and "termites" drew sharp criticism from Opposition parties, which accused him of using dehumanising language against protesters and demanded an apology.

Earlier this week, hundreds of people had participated in a candlelight solidarity march from Miramar Circle to Azad Maidan in support of the CJP protests in Delhi. Subsequently, Goa Police registered an FIR against unknown supporters of the CJP and other protesters for allegedly holding the demonstration without prior permission and for unlawful assembly.