Irate mob attacks police station, police lob tear gas-shells

Panaji, Mar 4: Police today (Mar 4, 2006) burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to quell an irate mob which attacked North Goa's Curchorem police station seeking release of people arrested in connection with yesterday's demolition of a place of worship.

The mob threw stones at the police station and shouted at the authorities demanding immediate release. As many as 180 people have been taken into custody for violation of prohibitory orders.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime) Ujjwal Mishra told UNI the situation was brought under control by forennoon and the mob had dispersed. The people taken into custody would be released later, he said.

Goa Governor S C Jamir, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane and Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar of the BJP, visited the trouble-torn area and appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony.

A contingent of the Rapid Action Force was deployed in the vulnerable areas of Curchorem and Saverdem. Police was also patrolling the area, even as efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible for demolition of the disputed structure.

The trouble sparked three days ago following a minority group obtaining stay from the directorate of panchayats against the orders of Guddamol village panchayat for demolition of the structure, considered illegal.

This snow-balled into a battle yesterday in which stones and other materials were freely used between two communities forcing the police to burst teargas shells and lathicharge, besides imposing prohibitory orders since last evening.

Violating the prohibitory orders, the mob thronged in front of the police station today demanding release of the people arrested last night, renewing the tension.

Police kept a constant vigil to check unruly elements, amid false reports of some fundamentalists trying to incite communal violence in the otherwise peaceful area.

UNI