Minimum force used during protest in Father Dias case, GHRC told

PANAJI: Goa Director General of Police T Mohan today told the Goa Human Rights Commission that minimum force was used to disperse the protesters who had gathered in Panaji, demanding fair probe into the death of priest and activist Fr Bismarque Dias, last year.

Social activist Aires Rodrigues had filed a petition in this regard with the Commission, drawing its attention to the police atrocity meted out to the peaceful protesters at Panaji on November 21, demanding free, fair and impartial probe into the sudden death of Dias.

In the reply, Mohan said "minimum force" was used to take protesters into police vehicles who were later taken to Porvorim and Anjuna police stations for safe custody and necessary action.

The DGP also said as many as 103 protesters were placed under arrest for violating Section 144 of the CrPC as there was a ban on all sorts of processions, protests, dharnas and morchas within the jurisdiction of Panaji police station in view of then ongoing International Film Festival of India.

Pointing out that Goa Police high-handedly abused their powers, used excessive criminal force and manhandled the protesters without any provocation, Rodrigues alleged that the peaceful protesters were manhandled and arrested though they had not infracted the provisions of Section 144 of CrPC.

Dias was found dead near the sluice gate of Mandovi river at St Estevam village in North Goa under mysterious circumstances on November 7.