Saffron protesters run amok in Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 21 – Margao police arrested six protestors including Bajrang Dal leader Jayesh Naik for unlawful assembly and for burning an effigy stuffed with fire crackers in front of the district Collectorate building here this evening The group of protestors armed with saffron flags had come to the Collectorate to submit a memorandum in support of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation in Jammu for return of the land withdrawn by the Jammu and Kashmir government. The activists submitted the memorandum first to the Additional Collector Prasarna Acharya and then to the district Collector, G P Naik demanding that the same be conveyed to the State government. The police moved in and confiscated the mega phone when Jayesh Naik began addressing the activists. PI Rajendra Prabhudesai said the agitators had no permission for use of loudspeaker. What took the police and the public by total surprise was the burning of effigy of J&K governor and J&K government. Fire crackers and fire bombs stuffed in the effigy exploded in front of the Collectorate, forcing the police to finally take the six persons into custody. The police later cordoned off the entrance to the Margao police headquarters as a precautionary measure as BJP activists led by Sharmad Raiturkar were seen around in support of the arrested persons. DySP Umesh Gaonkar later told newsmen that the six persons were arrested for unlawful assembly and for playing mischief by stuffing the effigy with fire crackers. "The protestors intimated us only at the last minute about the demonstration when one week notice is required to be given in the normal course," he said. The activists, who were booked for unlawful assembly and for mischief by fire, were later released on bail.
http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=8747&cid=26 -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London.