SANGUEM: The farmers who have been opposing the IIT project proposed in Sanguem united in a peaceful protest against the government on Wednesday, in a show of support to three members of the community who were issued notices under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code. (refer box)
The three made their first appearance before the Deputy Collector, Sanguem, but the matter was reportedly adjourned to August 11 as the Investigating
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Officer could not attend the hearing. Salom Rodrigues who appeared on behalf of the farmers’ group said that a total of nine farmers were issued the notice by the Office of the Deputy Collector, and three of them were scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday. “The proceedings filed by the police are highly unwarranted and are basically only to silence the farmers raising their voices against the IIT,” said Rodrigues.
Taking a jab against the police for filing frivolous cases against them, the farmers raised slogans like, “We want our farmlands”, and carried placards that read “Police are to protect people, not politicians and goondagiri” and “‘Goa Government is misusing powers and murdering democracy”.
Accusing the police of trying to instigate the farmers, Rodrigues said, “The farmers will contest the proceedings tooth and nail. In a democracy, everyone has the right to voice their issues. In this case, the farmers are merely voicing their grievances against the IIT being set up on their agricultural lands. ”
