Two Youths Detained in Panaji After 'Free Umar Khalid' Placard

Overview

• A youth identified in reports as Danish held a placard reading “Free Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Bhima Koregaon 16” at a solidarity gathering in Panaji and was questioned and taken into custody when he refused to produce ID, according to police and multiple reports.
• Demonstrators marched to the Panaji police headquarters to demand Danish’s release and police then detained a second person named in coverage as Sudin Dalvi after he expressed support and confronted media, police officials said.
• Goa Police filed a first information report against “unknown supporters” of the Cockroach Janta Party and protesters for alleged unlawful assembly and for holding the protest without prior permission, with further legal steps reported as pending.
• Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists staged protests outside the Panaji police station and called for non‑bailable charges, increasing political pressure on local authorities to treat the display of Khalid support as criminal.
• The episode ties to a wider national dispute over exam paper leaks and to Khalid’s long detention on charges including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and it could heighten scrutiny of public expressions of support and the police response to small protests.