Goa, March 3 -- In a move that sparked widespread protests from social activists and devotees, authorities successfully shifted a centuries-old banyan tree and the idol of Lord Khapareshwar to facilitate the construction of the six-lane Porvorim flyover.

The Bombay High Court had recently granted permission for the translocation of the banyan tree; however, the court's order made no mention of the adjacent Khapareshwar temple.

This omission led to a strong backlash from devotees and activists, who gathered in large numbers on Sunday to oppose the removal of the idol.

Tensions escalated throughout the day as demonstrators demanded to see official documentation authorizing the temple's removal.

Despite persistent requests, officials wer...