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The Rape of Goa - A photo documentary by Rajan P. Parrikar Venue: Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panjim, May 21-24, 2008 http://www.parrikar.org/misc/doc-notice.pdf --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM, MAY 23 – Counter-complaints of assault were filed by residents of Advalpal and a mining company on Wednesday, as protests against mining activities continued on Thursday. Mining operations at one site began in the morning and continued till 10.30 am, when villagers in large numbers rushed to the site and forcibly halted the work. Trucks were also prevented from carrying the ore. A police force was deployed at the site to avert clashes between the agitating residents and mining companies. At about 1.30 pm, some truck drivers, including Shamba Sawant and Rajendra Sawant, reportedly entered into a heated argument with the protestors. Demanding an explanation from residents for unnecessarily stopping the trucks, the drivers insisted that differences should be resolved by residents and mining companies themselves. In the ensuing altercation, the two drivers were accused of assaulting Sandesh Gaonkar, Surekha Gaonkar and Shital Thanekar. A formal complaint was later registered against the drivers under Section 323 IPC. Mining officials also lodged a complaint against six villagers, accusing them of assaulting a security guard and trespassing into the mining site. "The six villagers are likely to be arrested on Thursday," said Valpoi PI S M Vaingankar, who has been given additional charge of the Bicholim police station. Meanwhile, a group of residents squatted before the deputy collector's office in the morning, shouting slogans against the mining company and deputy collector. A police team rushed to the site and cordoned off the area to prevent the protestors from entering into the deputy collector's office. In the evening, the deputy collector along with a police force went to the mining site, but they were unable to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar has blamed the government for the ongoing mining agitation at Advalpal-Bicholim. "Mining problems are not just related to Bicholim, but have also created tension in other parts of the State. The government is to be blamed for the problem as they have given lease to several mining companies," he said, after meeting the agitating residents on Thursday. About 200 agitators gathered near the deputy collector's office shouting anti-mining slogans on Thursday morning. MGP President Pandurang Raut after meeting the agitators urged Deputy Collector Arvind Bugde to resolve the issue. Mr Bugde said that he has informed the matter to the collector and a meeting would be convened in a few days. Mr Raut asked Mr Bugde to stop the mining activities till a solution is reached. Later, Mr Raut met the police and took stock of the situation. Meanwhile, agitators submitted a memorandum to the deputy collector asking for police protection and to stop the mining activities, without any delay. Agitators dispersed only in the evening at about 6 pm. A police force was deployed at the site to avoid any untoward incident.