SANGUEM: With the imposition of Section 144 by the South Goa Collector within the precincts of the proposed site for IIT project, the farmers could not enter the disputed site to pursue with their agitation.
Fearing blacklash from the army of policemen posted at every point to the proposed site, the agitating farmers remained indoors for the day after the series of meetings and agitations since Saturday last.
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Meanwhile in another development, Police Inspector attached to Sanguem Police Station Vinayak N Patil is transfered to Goa Reserve Police Force, Panjim with immediate effect while transfering Pravin P Gawas from SB Ponda to Sanguem Police Station.
Sources informed that the politicos behind getting the IIT at Cotarli Sanguem were not satisfied with the lenient view taken by Sanguem PI Vinayak Patil against the agitators which ultimately led to his transfer. Similar fate is also likely to be faced by Sanguem Mamlatdar Rajesh Sakhalkar who is more approachable by the general public.
However, the agitators are reportedly learnt to have submitted complaints before the higher authorities in the police department complaining against inaction by the local police in the complaints lodged by them against pro IIT supporters and men in uniform.
Immediately after the prohibitory order by the Collector, the authorities installed a sign board at Cotarli village stating ‘This property belongs to Government. Trespassers will be prosecuted’.
Incidentally, as a large posse of men in uniform stayed guard at every point to property under Survey No 21/1 of Cotarli village, surveyors continued with their survey operations reportedly from behind the Civil and Criminal Court Sanguem.
The site around the proposed IIT project looked like a fortress and general public wonder over the misuse of police machinery and loss of human hours despite there being prohibitory order of Collector in place.
