Goa TCP Department Files Police Complaint Over Missing Official Files
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department in Panaji, Goa, has taken formal legal action by filing a police complaint after discovering that 10 official files have gone missing from its office premises. This development follows a series of protests that occurred at the TCP office on February 20, where agitators gathered to voice their demands.
Chief Minister Warns of Strict Action Against Protesters
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has issued a stern warning, stating that the government will take decisive action against individuals who marched to the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane. According to Sawant, these protesters allegedly attempted to damage the minister's house and assault him, actions that the CM described as crossing legal boundaries.
"Those who marched to the minister's residence and tried to attack his house, or tried to assault him and used abusive words, will not be spared, and strict action will be taken against them," Sawant declared. He emphasized that such behavior constitutes taking law and order into one's own hands and will not be tolerated.
Background of the Protests and Government Response
The protests on Monday were organized by individuals demanding the scrapping of Section 39(A) of the TCP Act. Additionally, protesters called for action against police personnel who allegedly manhandled St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar during an incident at the TCP office.
Chief Minister Sawant chaired a meeting of the BJP legislature wing to brief ministers and MLAs about the ongoing agitations against the government in the state. Following this meeting, Sawant addressed the media, accusing the protesters of attempting to mislead the public by portraying the government as unjust.
"The protesters were trying to mislead the people in the state by portraying it as if government was trying to do injustice to the people," Sawant stated. He reiterated that while protests are permissible, they must be conducted within the confines of the law.
Missing Files and Office Occupation Concerns
The TCP Department's police complaint specifically highlights the disappearance of 10 files from its office. Sawant expressed concern over this matter, questioning, "Where shall we find those files?" He noted that the department staff conducted checks and confirmed that the files were indeed missing after the protest activities.
Sawant also addressed the protesters' occupation of the TCP office beyond working hours. He explained that the government allowed them to stay initially because there were women among the protesters, and any forceful removal could have led to accusations against the administration.
"We allowed them to stay as there were women. If we acted against them and removed them from the office, then we would be blamed," the Chief Minister said. However, he criticized the prolonged occupation, asking, "What was the need to stay in the office the whole night? If they wanted to protest, they should have sat outside the office, or even at Azad Maidan."
Government's Stance on Future Protests
Sawant emphasized that the government had shown patience by waiting until Tuesday to try and convince the protesters to end their agitation. He asserted that the administration will not tolerate what he described as a mentality aimed at taking Goa in different directions with conflicting ideologies.
"We will not leave them. We will not allow such a type of mentality in the state. Goans should know the truth," Sawant stated. He further warned against using caste and religious sentiments as a guise for threats, affirming, "We will not tolerate threats every time under the garb of caste and dharma. We are all Goans."
The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating that the missing files from the TCP office are a serious concern, and the police complaint has been filed to address this issue formally. The situation remains under investigation as authorities seek to recover the documents and hold accountable those responsible for the alleged misconduct during the protests.
