Panaji: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned the matter to next week in the absence of medical reports for seven persons who were detained by state police during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Azad Maidan on Sunday. The protest demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
A division bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar had ordered the immediate release of all seven protesters detained at Azad Maidan in Panaji during the protest called by the CJP.
Seven activists, including Afreen (Amreen) Shaikh, Jack Sukhija, Bupesh Bhind, Aditya Parulekar, Listan Noronha, Shamino Fernandes and Milind Rane, were detained by police ahead of the protest on Sunday.
The court had scheduled the hearing for Monday, allowing the detained activists to undergo medical examinations at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Advocate Norma Alvares, representing the activists, told reporters on Monday that copies of affidavits filed by the police inspectors of Panaji and Pernem police stations had been submitted to the court. An affidavit was also filed by the Executive Magistrate of Tiswadi, in accordance with the High Court’s orders on Sunday.
She said the court was informed that six of the seven persons had undergone medical examinations at GMCH on Sunday night.
“GMCH was yet to submit the medical reports of these activists, although our lawyer had told the Medical Superintendent to furnish them,” she said.
Alvares said the court had asked Advocate General Devidas Pangam on Monday to expedite the matter and obtain the medical reports from GMCH before the next hearing.
When asked about the contents of the affidavits filed by the police, Alvares said the Panaji Police Inspector had provided a detailed account of past events related to the CJP.
According to the police affidavits, the authorities anticipated possible disturbances at Azad Maidan and therefore detained the activists.
Of the seven detained persons, six were taken to Pernem police station, while one was kept at Panaji police station, the affidavits stated. They also mentioned that the police asked the activists whether they needed water and medical attention for their injuries.
According to the police account, one of the activists fell and sustained injuries while running towards the platform at Azad Maidan.
“They offered to take them for medical treatment, but they all refused. So they brought a 108 ambulance and treated them,” Alvares said, recounting the police version of events.
The police stated that the protesters were detained until 7 pm, when the authorities learnt that a petition had been filed before the High Court in the matter.
