Prohibitory orders around Shivaji statue in Goa town

Panaji, Nov 6 : The administration in Goa's North Goa district on Monday issued prohibitory orders near a controversial Shivaji statue in Valpoi town, following differences over the illegally installed statue between two communities.

"The District Magistrate, North Goa has declared Hathwada junction as hyper-sensitive area within radius of 15 metres from erection of unauthorized statue at Hathwada circle, Valpoi, Sattari," the order said, adding that carrying or arms or assembly of more than five persons was prohibited.

Tension in Valpoi had erupted before the February assembly elections, after a mob tried to install a plaster of Paris statue of Shivaji at the traffic circle, in a town where a significant section of the population are from the minority community.