Tension over Shivaji statue in Goa village, several police teams deployed

Superintendent of Police Sunita Sawant said the situation was peaceful and that “as a precautionary measure, some police force was deployed”.

Later in the evening, Goa Minister for Social Welfare Subhash Phal Dessai went to the spot and took stock of the situation.

Dessai said, “According to me, no one should have any problem when the statue has been installed on a private plot of land. Those installing the statue have applied in the panchayat for requisite permission and given representation for installation and also informed the deputy collector’s office. Despite that, some villagers or I don’t know where they came from…I came to know there are some political instigations to people to come and create nuisance.”

“If they have any issue, they should go to the court, instead of creating a law and order situation. There is no change of purpose of land here. If I want to place a statue of my God or a leader [on a private property], no one can tell me that I cannot do so,” said Dessai.