Goa police detained several protesters on Sunday as they gathered for a planned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, preventing the agitation from getting underway.Dozens of demonstrators were reportedly taken into custody upon reaching Azad Maidan. Police also barred several prominent figures, including former Allahabad high court chief justice Ferdin Rebello, from entering the venue, forcing protesters to assemble on the adjoining main road.Those detained included CJP leader Amreen Shaikh and several other demonstrators. After being denied entry to Azad Maidan, protesters gathered on the streets outside the Goa Police headquarters.“We don’t know how many of them are detained because they were lifting everyone who was heading to Azad Maidan,” one protester said.Veteran lawyers Claud and Norma Alvares, former Allahabad high court chief justice Ferdin Rebello, and activists Swapnesh Sherlekar and Govind Shirodkar were among those stopped from entering the ground. The action took place in the presence of North Goa superintendent of police Harish Madkaikar.
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Rebello, who heads the ‘Enough Is Enough’ movement in Goa, questioned the authorities’ decision and demanded that they identify the legal provision preventing citizens from entering Azad Maidan, which houses a martyrs’ memorial, according to news agency PTI.“Freedom fighters fought for the liberation of Goa, and now we are fighting for freedom from the misuse of power by the Election Commission. Entering Azad Maidan is not an offence,” he said.The CJP and opposition parties have been seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.