refer
http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/2008/02/believe-it-or-not-goa-police-has-gone.html
The villagers are agitating for a basic right to live.
The functioning of Hirala and Khodidas mine at Colomb seeks to kill this
very right.
The villagers in the last week of January closed down the mine. This
prompted the mine owner (Fomentos) to keep the mine close for two days but
the mine was then started under police protection. However no transportation
of ore outside the mine was done. The trucks which were going to operate
inside the mine were going through a road made ILLEGALLY by the mining
company through reserve Forest. No action was taken by the forest department
despite Complaints.
On 6th of February Fomentos started transporting the ore through reserve
forest via Curpe. The villagers got together and opposed this blatant
illegality. However, on 8th Feb at 3 pm, the Goa Police decided to give
protection to this illegality by escorting the truck with two jeeps!
Agnelo Dias noticed the truck and waved to it to stop. The brave Goa Police
led by ASI PV Dessai showed their allegiance to the Fomentos. Agnelo was
assaulted and kicked in his private parts. Hearing of this act of bravery of
the Goa Police, more than 400 villagers from Colomba, Rivona, Dhadolem,
Muscavrem, and Kevona blocked the entire Rivona Colomba road for over 3
hours untill Quepem P.I. Naresh Mamel rushed to the incident site and
assured the agitated villagers that such incident of alleged assault will
not be repeated in future.
Has the Govt of Goa decided to turn terrorist with the people of Goa?
Blatant illegalities are being ignored,
peaceful protests are treated with contempt
the Forest and other Depts are protecting the offenders
and the solidarity of the villagers is sought to be undone
by the terror of the State.
Shame on the henchmen of the rapist mining lobby!
All who speak about love for Goa should do their bit
for the brave villagers of Colomb.
Be ready to show your solidarity
and tell the Govt that the rightful protest
cannot be stamped out by terror!
As the great Harvanshrai Bachan wrote:
Itne baazu, Itne sar, ginle dushman dhyan se
haarega woh har baazi jo khele hum jee jaan se
(The enemy needs to note the raised hands and the upright heads
He is set to lose every battle fought with our determined solidarity)
in solidarity
Pravin Sabnis
