Fatorda police on Monday, December 6, arrested five persons for protesting in Margao to mark the demolition of Babri Masjid.
The persons arrested have been identified as Imran Mohammad, Jabir Shaikh, Syed Iftiaz, Raees Anjum and Muzaffar Shaikh.
Police said the accused persons along with 100 people had formed the unlawful assembly near the South Goa collectorate with permission from authorities.
Most of the protesting people were members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
Muzaffar Sheikh, who was part of the protest, opposed the police action and alleged that it was an illegal arrest by the police. "We were quietly protesting. The Supreme Court has ruled that the demolition of the Babri Masjid was illegal. If the act is illegal, then those who are involved in it should be punished," he said.
On being asked why they did not apply for permission to protest, he said, "We had applied to the deputy collector's office to protest but we could not get permission because the police did not submit their report."