Deccan Herald, 5/03/06 Goa seals borders after riots By Devika Sequeira DH News Service Curchorem, South Goa: Goa on Saturday sealed its borders with Belgaum and Hubli to prevent people being brought in to fuel the riots, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ujjwal Mishra told journalists.
Two consecutive days of rioting and violence have left the mining towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem in South Goa tense and volatile. Worse still, Goa¢s first-ever major incidence of communal violence has badly hurt the secular credentials of this tourist state. The only other serious case of rioting here took place in Vasco in 1981. Goa on Saturday sealed its borders with Belgaum and Hubli to prevent people being brought in to fuel the riots, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ujjwal Mishra told journalists. Police suspected an infiltration of saffron groups to foment more trouble. CRPF forces have been requisitioned by the government. The police also arrested 160 people on Saturday for violating Section 144, which was imposed on Friday. They were later released. Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were injured in Saturday¢s violence. Governor S C Jamir and Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane visited this largely mining area on Saturday to review the situation. It was at Mr Jamir's prompting that those arrested were immediately released to defuse tension. Hinting broadly at the BJP, Mr Rane said in an official statement released late Saturday night that he expected political leaders to act with restraint. BJP leader Manohar Parrikar and a host of other members were stationed in the BJP constituency. http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=267606&cat=India Police fire in air to quell rioting, Goa CM appeals for harmony Panaji | March 04, 2006 12:39:02 AM IST Several people were injured in incidents of stone-throwing and some shops and establishments, besides vehicles damaged in clashes between two communities tonight over the demolition of an ''illegal''structure of worship in Goddimol-Sanvordem village in South Goa. Battling for about two hours, police brought the situation under control after firing into the air and resorting to lathicharge, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime) Ujjwal Mishra told UNI tonight. The police are likely to impose prohibitory orders with immediate effect under section 144 CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more persons in the tension-ridden area following the turmoil, he said. Night patrolling of the area was underway now and efforts would be made to apaprehend the miscreants on either side. The situation was tense but under control. The trouble started after the demolition of a place of worship belonging to a minority community on Wednesday, with the community elders getting a stay from the Directorate of Panchayats against the demolition order issued by the local panchayat. This snowballed into a clash in the village despite the presence of the police, with both the communities hurling missiles at each other. The police could not specify the number of people injured in the melee, with the miscreants on the prowl. Additional police force had been rushed to the village as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane had appealed to the people to maintain peace, harmony and restraint in the village asking them not to take law into their own hands or get carried away by incitements. UNI BM SSS LR KP232 http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2006/march/132344.htm Goa tense, but under control By: UNI March 5, 2006 Panaji: The situation in the trouble-torn Curchorem-Sanvordem areas of south Goa, which witnessed a spree of communal violence, looting and arson for the last three days since the demolition of an illegal structure, was reported to be tense but under control, with no untoward incident having occurred since yesterday evening. ''The situation is better with no untoward incident reported since yesterday evening with intensified patrolling and precautionary measures being taken,'' deputy inspector-general of police Ujjwal Mishra told UNI today. The police, he said, suspected certain ''fundamentalist forces'' from within Goa operating behind the violence to disrupt peace and tranquility in otherwise traditionally peaceful state. He, however, refused to identify the forces and ruled out the theory of ''infiltration'' of these elements from outside the state. Prohibitory orders have strictly been enforced in the disturbed areas. Meanwhile, the Goa government today opened a special control room at the secretariat complex in Porvorim to receive information from the general public regarding the law and order situation. The control room would work as a liaison between the civil and police administration of Goa and the Centre, besides the general public. It would operate round-the-clock under the control of an undersecretary who will be available on mobile number 9850474114. General public can contact the control room on telephone No. 2419769, an official release said. http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/nation/2006/march/132332.htm Goa on red alert By: Mayuresh Pawar March 5, 2006 Panaji: The tourist State has been put on red alert on late Saturday evening following communal riots that sparked off between Hindus and Muslims due to demolition of a mosque in the south Goa district. The situation in the twin-towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem, remained tense as mobs continued violence, forcing police to resort to firing several times during the day. Two people were seriously wounded in the police firing. The mob also mercilessly beat several police personnel, including a police inspector and fled with his revolver. On Friday afternoon, a rally organised by a minority community to condemn the partial demolition of the structure by a few persons on March 1, took a violent turn with rival factions gathering in mobs against each other at Sanvordem. The mosque was built on government land. Police believe that armed persons from areas like Bhatkal in Karnataka entered Sanvordem to cause mob violence. The violence continued through the night, as the mob completely razed down the disputed structure in the presence of police. Later, district administration clamped Section 144 in the town. Around 200 people have been arrested. The situation in the town remained tense even after additional police force was requisitioned there. “We have asked to deploy two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which will reach Goa tomorrow morning,” the DIG said. Goa Govenor S C Jamir along with Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar visited the areas, but failed to pacify the crowd. Parrikar said, “This is a complete failure of the administration.” http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=137299&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28350 Protesters storm Goa police station SANVODEM, India: Several hundred Hindu protesters stormed a police station in a town in the coastal state of Goa yesterday, demanding the release of 37 men arrested during violent Hindu-Muslim clashes in the area. The protesters defied a curfew imposed after three days of clashes, sparked when suspected Hindu extremists destroyed a mosque in Sanvodem. Five people, including three police officers, were wounded yesterday as police tired to repel the rioters with batons. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=89017 No let-up in Goa protests, two injured in firing Governor, CM visit Sanvordem but fail to convince protesters EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Send Feedback E-mail this story Print this story Posted online: Sunday, March 05, 2006 at 0137 hours IST PANAJI, MARCH 4: The situation in Sanvordem, a mining village in south Goa, remained tense as mob violence continued for the second day. Goa Governor S C Jamir along with Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane and Chief Secretary J P Singh visited the town today but failed to pacify the crowd. The tension flared up this evening when the minority community took out a protest march, which was objected by the rival group. The clash that followed only made the matter worse with the crowd ransacking several establishments and torching vehicles. The police had to resort to firing in air when inspector Devendra Gaad was attacked and his service revolver taken away by the mob. Two persons were injured in the firing. The bone of contention was the demolition of a structure in the village, which was used for prayers by a minority community. On March 1, a mob allegedly demolished the structure following which seven people were arrested by the police. “We had to evacuate minority community members from there to avoid clashes,” said DIG Ujjwal Mishra. “We have deployed more police force and the situation is under control,” added Mishra. Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed failure of the district administration for worsening of the situation. Girish Chodankar, Youth Congress president, on his part said it was the handiwork of Hindu fundamentalists. Later, the district administration clamped Section 144 in the town and arrested over 100 people even as the nearby areas of Curchorem, Kepem, Sanguem, Cuncolim and Balli observed a bandh. http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=20794 Communal tension could affect trade and tourism in Goa Panaji: In the wake of violence in the Goan town of Sanvordem over the last two days, industrialists here have called for adequate steps to prevent recurrence of such communal clashes as it could affect the state's trade and tourism industry. "The violence took place in a small pocket but we have to ensure that it does not spread elsewhere," Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nitin Cuncolienkar said. Goa has always been marketed as a communal tension-free destination and such violence would affect its image, he said. "Tourism is a very delicate industry. Little aggressiveness can damage it. Whatever happened should be curbed at this stage itself," said Bruno Gomindes, Managing Director Travco Holidays Pvt Ltd. Irrespective of religion, all Goans should unite and fight tendencies that lead to tension in the state, Cuncolienkar said. The travel and tourism body in Goa is optimistic that considering the character of Goans, the problem would be nipped in the bud. "This is a very localised problem and the town does not fall in the tourism region so it will not have any impact," stated Ralf D'souza, President-elect, Tours and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an apex body of tourism sector in the state. "We are very positive as by nature Goans do not allow such activities to make a dent in the state," he said. http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/05/stories/2006030504320900.htm 5 injured in violence in Goa Special Correspondent Police fire in air to quell violent crowds Curchorem-Sanvordem (South Goa): Five persons, including three police personnel, were injured as violence, rioting and attacks on police personnel continued in these twin towns for the second consecutive day on Saturday, despite imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Cr.P.C. Violence erupted on Friday following a confrontation between two communities over damage to a disputed abandoned structure by some miscreants on Wednesday night. On Saturday, police lobbed tear gas shells and fired in the air to quell rampaging crowds at different places. Trouble arose after some people were arrested for unlawful assembly and violating prohibitory orders. Mobs attacked a police station demanding the release of those arrested. The injured were admitted to the Goa Medical College hospital and stated to be out of danger. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ujjwal Mishra said the situation is "tense but under control." Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane along with Chief Secretary J.P. Singh visited the towns to review the situation, and appealed to the people to maintain calm. Governor S.C. Jamir also paid a visit to take stock of the situation. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200603042222.htm Rane blames BJP and RSS for violence at Sanvordem Panaji, March 4. (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane today blamed BJP and RSS for violence at Sanvordem town, 60 kms from here, and hinted that para-military forces may be inducted soon to deal with the situation. "BJP and RSS elements are creating problems by attacking peaceful citizens. We are not going to tolerate any communal action as Goa is a very peaceful state," Rane told PTI. Sanvordem town has been witnessing violence for last two days with a violent crowd attacking police station twice and ransacking the market which left three persons -- including a police sub inspector -- seriously injured. Police fired in the air and resorted to cane charge to control the situation. He said that para-military forces may be deployed depending on the situation. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200603041927.htm Muslims, Hindus clash over demolished mosque in Goa Sanvodem, March. 4 (AP): Several hundred Hindu protesters stormed a police station in a town in the coastal state of Goa on Saturday, demanding the release of 37 men arrested during violent Hindu-Muslim clashes in the area. The protesters defied a police curfew imposed after three days of clashes, sparked when suspected Hindu extremists destroyed a mosque in the town of Sanvodem. Five people, including three police officers, were wounded on Saturday as police tired to repel the rioters with batons, said Police Superintendent Satkhar Prabhubesai. The demonstrators responded by bombarding police with rocks and beating officers. An Associated Press reporter saw several men beat a policeman unconscious with rocks and sticks and then steal his gun. The Hindu mob then rampaged through the town, looting Muslim shops and burning vehicles and buildings. An overturned car lay in a pile of debris in front of the police station. Relations between India's Hindus and minority Muslims are uneasy and often flare into violence. On Friday a Muslim protest in the northern city of Lucknow against the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush, turned into a Muslim-Hindu riot in which four people were shot dead and 20 wounded. However, religious clashes in Goa, a former Portuguese colony and one of India's premier tourist attractions, are rare. The violence took place some 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of the tourist beaches on India's west coast. The unrest started on Wednesday after suspected Hindu extremists destroyed a prayer room in the mosque, which was said to be illegally built on government land. As Muslim groups gathered to protest, Hindus rallied against them and completely destroyed the mosque on Friday night. Police used tear gas and fired shots in the air to disperse the rioters and detained the 37 men, said Ujjwal Mishra, the district police chief. The protesters left the police station later on Saturday after Hindu politicians intervened to secure the release of the men. However, the area remained tense and more than 300 police officers were deployed in the streets of the town, Prabhubesai said.
