Team Herald
ANJUNA: Candlelight protesters against loud music in Anjuna and Vagator, the insensitivity of Goa Police who through a media stated the “Anjuna Police Station duty master was suspended following complaints against him alleging misuse of his personal position, complaints relating to colluding with pubs and restaurants to allow loud music beyond permissible hours.”
“We never expected the Goa Police to stoop so low. It is difficult to understand the motive behind this statement by the Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal. The people involved are the PI and his superiors and action is being taken against a subordinate who is supposed to assign duties on the police roster,” lamented Dr Inacio Fernandes, on the sidelines of the protest that saw old and new faces on the third successive day.
“In front of MLA Delilah Lobo it was Anjuna Police Inspector (PI) Paresh Naik who promised the MLA and all of us that no music will be allowed after 10 pm and that he would be at the police station from 7 pm on all the days,” recollected Agnes D’Souza.
“Inspector Naik, did not show his face on the second day for allowing music to start at one am after we left the police station on the first day. When we gathered at the police station on the second day, we had to go by ourselves and clubs, on seeing us, switched off their music. We protested facing risk as the police were not there to protect us,” added D’Souza.
“Today, we are outside Diaz, because despite music being heard so far away, the owners want to fool us that their place is sound proof. If it was, we would have been able to sleep in our homes,” complained Dwayne Pereira, who lives a hundred-odd metres away.
“With the Almighty and the Press by our side, we have decided to take our protest to a conclusion that will see the government mouthing more absurdities through its various departments,” stated Ana Fernandes from Anjuna.
“The glow of our candle lights seems to be exposing what the government is trying to hide,” concluded Fernandes.