Panaji, May 22: Several hundred people blocked a national highway in North Goa on Wednesday evening, demanding the arrest of woman social worker Shreya Dhargalkar, who has been accused of hurting religious sentiments.
Dhargalkar, initially detained by Cuncolim police in South Goa for a similar offense, was granted bail by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Quepem, on Wednesday. However, later in the evening, a magistrate in Bicholim remanded her to judicial custody until June 4, according to North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal.
The situation escalated before her judicial remand. Around 400 people gathered outside the Bicholim police station and then moved onto the national highway passing through the city. The protesters demanded Dhargalkar’s arrest and insisted she be brought before them.
A senior official reported that the Bicholim police had already registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Dhargalkar for allegedly hurting religious sentiments following a video she posted referring to the devotees of Shree Devi Lairai.
Despite Deputy Superintendent of Police Sagar Ekoskar’s efforts to persuade the devotees to disperse and trust the legal process, the protesters refused to relent.
