Goa bandh today

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-20
PANAJI- In view of the call for Goa bandh on Monday given by the Mandir Suraksha Samiti and a few other organisations, the government on Sunday imposed prohibitory orders banning assembly and collection of five or more persons and taking out or organising processions, carrying of firearms or weapons of offences, with the district magistrates issuing the orders effective from midnight tonight.
The call for Goa bandh on Monday was given following a few incidents of desecration of temples in the state and failure of the police to arrest people behind the acts of desecration.
The district magistrates through identical orders promulgated under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code have also banned use of loudspeakers, demonstrations, slogan shouting, road closures and forcible closure of shops and other establishments. The orders would be effective from midnight October 20 to midnight of October 21 in whole of state.
The restrictions would, however, not apply to public servants on duty and to bonafide marriage or funeral processions or any special occasions, which in the opinion of the district magistrate/additional district magistrate/sub-divisional magistrates were genuine and for which prior permission in writing has been obtained from the appropriate authorities.
The Director-General of Police, Mr Brijindra Singh Brar informed that top police officials have been kept on their toes and all precautionary measures taken to thwart the forced bandh.
Mr Brar said two companies of the Central Industrial Security Forces, and India Reserve Battalion, besides the state police force, would be deployed.
Observing that the bandh should not be forced upon anyone, he said the bandh should not inconvenience the students by throwing transport facilities out of gear. The bandh should not affect supply of essential goods.
The government has made elaborate security arrangements to thwart any forcible closure of shops and public transport by the organisers of the bandh. The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, on Saturday announced that the enough security would be given to traders and transport operators to carry out their activities.
The examinations being conducted by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and various colleges in the state would go on as scheduled said the authorities.
In another development, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has strongly opposed the bandh.
The Chamber has also strongly condemned the incidents of vandalism of religious places and structures and has requested the Chief Minister to ensure that the culprits were brought to book at earliest.
The chamber has urged the Chief Minister to increase police presence in sensitive areas so that these incidents of vandalism do not occur in future and do not provide an opportunity to fundamentalist forces of any faith to create communal tension in the state.
The chamber has also stated that it was  against  blowing  of  such  incidents  of  vandalism  out  of  proportion  by  calling  for  a  Goa  bandh,  which  it  feels  is   not  conducive  to  the  peaceful  atmosphere  that  prevails  in  the  state and that bandh  for  minor  law  and  order  incidents  would cause  production   loss and  put  additional  strain  on  the  industry  and  businesses,  which  were  already  reeling  under  various  pressures. 
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the chamber has urged him to ensure that the police was deployed at all sensitive places, particularly industrial estates, markets so that the working as well as general public were not forcefully prevented from going about their daily routines. The chamber has also requested Mr Kamat to ensure that roads were not blocked and that public transport and private vehicles were allowed to ply freely.