Express Network Villagers held, Goan women begin protest at temple
RAJU D. NAYAK PANAJI, DECEMBER 31 Women of Goa's Salari village have gathered at a local temple to protest the arrest of the men of their households following the murder of Prithiviraj Rane, a stone quarry owner. Rane was lynched by a mob opposed to the illegal stone crushing unit run by his family. For the third day today, women crowded the Kelbai temple and refused to return home till all the arrested men were freed. So far, 109 people have been rounded up; six others have been arrested. ''CM Pratapsinh Rane has enough time to mourn the death of Prithiviraj Rane, but he couldn't come here to listen to our problems,'' a woman protester said. The village falls in the CM's Sattari constituency. Villagers allege that every resident of Salari is being treated as a murderer. ''Though we have been demanding the closure of the quarries since 1994, we are not responsible for Prithviraj Rane's killing,'' a protestor said. ''Let the police arrest everyone since all of has had chased away the police from the village,'' said a villager. URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85088 -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
