Goa, In a tumultuous event on Monday, Subhash Phal Desai, a minister in Goa, was injured following stone pelting that erupted after the unveiling of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The incident occurred in Sao Jose De Areal village, South Goa, amidst a backdrop of protests and a heavy police presence due to disagreements over the statue’s installation.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the controversy began on Sunday, near the Margao town, when one group installed the statue of the Maratha king, leading to objections from another faction. The confrontation escalated the following day, coinciding with the 394th birth anniversary of Shivaji, a date marked by celebrations across the state in honor of the Maratha emperor.

The stone pelting took place in the afternoon as Minister Desai was departing the ceremony site. He recounted to the media that the assault occurred after he engaged in a conversation with a group opposing the statue’s presence. Desai, who serves as the state’s social welfare minister, sustained minor injuries from the incident.

Local residents of Sao Jose De Areal have voiced their opposition to the statue’s installation since its inception on Sunday, highlighting the deep-seated divisions within the community over the matter.