Goa govt extends ban on Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik

Panaji, Sept 22: The Goa government has extended the ban on controversial Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik till January 14, 2016.

The state's Home Department yesterday issued the order banning Muthalik from entering Goa after the Supreme Court dismissed his petition challenging the ban, which has been enforce for the past four years.

The ban order quoted the report from the police department which has expressed the fear that Muthalik's entry might create law and order situation in the state.

"The district magistrate on the basis of report received from the Superintendent of Police has expressed the necessity to extend the ban of Muthalik and his associates/members of Sri Ram Sene for a further period as government may deem fit, as there is apprehension that in case of the orders are lifted then there is a possibility of violence and serious law and order situation disturbing the communal harmony, tourism and creating fear in the mind of public and tourists," reads the order.

It mentions that the ban would be in existence till January 14, next year after which it can be reviewed. Muthalik had decided to expand his outfit in the coastal state in 2012.

Sri Ram Sene and Muthalik hit headlines in 2009 after their activists had barged into a pub in Mangalore and manhandled men and women under the pretext that they were 'ruining Indian culture'.

PTI