Goa: Mob throws stones on Calangute panchayat office against Shivaji Maharaj statue removal order

Shivaji Maharaj is an inspiration to everyone irrespective of religious beliefs, said a protestor.Protesters demanded that the panchayat immediately withdraw this order and apologise to the people.

The order of Calangute Panchayat in Goa to remove the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed roadside resulted in a mob throwing stones at its office on Tuesday.

Nobody was injured in the incident as per the preliminary information, police said.

A mob comprising at least 100 people holding saffron flags marched on the Panchayat office in the morning and demanded that the Panchayat withdraw its order.

The order issued on Monday asked a local organisation to remove the statue of Shivaji Maharaj from the roadside as the place needs to be vacated for putting up an electricity pole. “We are here to protest against the order of the Calangute panchayat. Shivaji Maharaj is an inspiration to everyone irrespective of religious beliefs,” said a protestor.

Protesters demanded that the panchayat immediately withdraw this order and apologise to the people. The situation was brought under control by the police. Panchayat officials were not available for comment.