CJP protest in Goa: Police detain several demonstrators, block entry to Azad Maidan

The CJP and opposition parties have been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. (Photo: X/@Cockroachisback) Goa police on Sunday (October 11, 2026) detained several protesters who were heading to the Cockroach Janta party's agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, cracking down on them before the demonstration could even begin.Authorities rounded up dozens of demonstrators as they arrived at Azad Maidan, and stopped senior figures, including former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Ferdin Rebello, from entering the venue and forcing the protest onto the adjacent main road.Keep track | Anti-CEC protest LIVE: CJP leaders vow to protest till CEC resigns, urge all parties to unite ahead of INDIA bloc marchSeveral protesters, including CJP leader Amreen Shaikh, were taken into custody.Demonstrators spilt onto the streets outside the Goa Police headquarters after police stopped them from entering the venue."We don't know how many of them are detained because they were lifting everyone who was heading to Azad Maidan," one of the protesters said.Veteran lawyers Claud and Norma Alvares, former chief justice of Allahabad High Court Justice Ferdin Rebello, activists Swapnesh Sherlekar and Govind Shirodkar were stopped from entering the Azad Maidan in presence of Superintendent of Police (North) Harish Madkaikar.Mr. Rebello, who leads the "Enough Is Enough" movement in the state, demanded that the administration cite the law prohibiting citizens from entering Azad Maidan, which houses a martyrs' memorial."Freedom fighters fought for the liberation of Goa, and now we are fighting for freedom from the misuse of power by the Election Commission. Entering Azad Maidan is not an offence," he said.The CJP and opposition parties have been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Published - October 11, 2026 07:04 pm IST