Goa, Oct. 21 -- A local court in Mapusa has discharged all 50 individuals accused in the 2020 Guleli Panchayat protest, citing a complete lack of evidence.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Puja Sardessai, in her order under Section 258 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.), stated that all further proceedings against the accused are stopped, and they are discharged of offences under Sections 143, 147, 341, and 504 read with Section 149 of the IPC.

The accused were alleged to have formed an unlawful assembly and wrongfully restrained Guleli Sarpanch Apoorva Chari and other panchayat members while exiting the premises. They were also accused of using abusive language against the Chief Minister and Health Minister and violating...