The others who were arrested include Curchorem Congress block working president Ali Shaikh, Prakash Gawas, Ashley Fernandes, Fedelis Fernandes, Robert Estibeiro and Maclin Pereira.
Curchorem Quepem Mamlatdar Pratap Gaonkar, who had ordered their arrest, disclosed that the PI had informed him that around 10-12 persons are agitating and stopping mining trucks at Tilamol junction.
“I immediately went to the site and sought to know as to why they were stopping ore transportation. They told me that they wanted to stop the mining trucks but did not give any reason,” said Gaonkar.
Confirming that Mining Bypass people had submitted an application on Friday to the deputy collector and to him, Gaonkar informed that he discussed the matter with the deputy collector and then met the company’s manager where he checked copies of the permission obtained from Mines and Geology Department to transport ore with 150 trucks per day after a gap of 10 minutes.
Refusing to comment on mining bypass road, Gaonkar said that he had requested the people to hold a discussion with the deputy collector once he returned from an election-related meeting in Panjim. They refused to hold the same and said that they were ready to get arrested.
Quepem PI Ravindra Dessai informed that he had told agitating crowd that the ore which is transported to Capxem Jetty in Sanvordem from Cavrem mine is e-auctioned ore and transported as per court order and that they cannot stop it.
“When they refused to pay head to our requests, we arrested them to prevent them from committing any cognisable offence,” he added.
Speaking to media, Kakodkar said, “For eight years, people have been demanding a mining corridor and a bypass but the erstwhile Congress government and the current BJP government, have failed to respond except for an assurance from the chief minister,” Kakodkar informed.
He further informed that they had a meeting with chief minister in September wherein he assured of an amicable solution.
“Despite submitting a memorandum to chief secretary, chief minister, deputy collector and DySP Quepem eight days ago, the ore transportation has started and that’s why we were protesting peacefully against it,” Kakodkar informed and alleged that the authorities have instigated them by hiring private goondas.
Later, he urged the government to start the work on bypass at the earliest.
