Panaji: Goa police have registered three FIRs, including against Congress functionary Girish Chodankar, for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments.Police on Sunday questioned Chodankar for nearly three hours at Mapusa police station, and asked him to appear again on Monday, SP Salim Shaikh said. Mapusa police filed two separate FIRs against Chodankar and tribal leader Govind Shirodkar.PI Navin Desai said that, based on a complaint by Swaraj Gomantak, an FIR was registered against Chodankar for allegedly disrespecting “Maa Ganga Devi Aarti”.A third FIR was filed by Panaji police against Warren Alemao for allegedly hurting religious sentiments after he demanded a ban on Sanatan and Sanatani in Benaulim.State Karni Sena president Santosh Y Rajput filed the complaint against Alemao. Panaji PI Vijaykumar Chodankar said the accused “intentionally made a statement demanding a ban on Sanatan and Sanatani, that is Hindus across the state, thereby promoting enmity between religious groups and outraging religious feelings, amounting to public mischief; hence FIR is registered”.Chodankar and Alemao appeared before the police and joined the investigation.Chodankar said he was grilled for nearly three hours and alleged the case was politically motivated. “I have satisfied the police with answers to the questions asked. This is just a political case. How can they file an FIR on my statement? I told the police that I will be available anytime to join the investigation. I have not hurt any religious sentiments. I have targeted BJP in that video,” he said.On Saturday, Hindu leaders issued a three-day ultimatum to police to arrest Shirodkar, Alemao and Chodankar, warning of large-scale protests if no action is taken.
