Team Herald
PANJIM: Goencho Avaaz said Goa’s image suffered a major blot when state terror was unleashed on the Shel Melauli tribal community and surrounding villages through an unwarranted lathi charge and assault by the police force.
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“Shockingly, this incident culminated in the trampling on the chest of an elderly woman by a brazen police officer having a long track record of alleged brutality. To add insult to injury, the police were quick to file FIRs against leaders of the campaign, even going as far as to initiate a brutal physical assault on Shailendra Velingkar, one of the campaign leaders, within the premises of the police station,” said GA co-conveners Captain Viriato Fernades and Swapnesh Sherlekar.
They also referred to how a cabinet minister had publicly admitted to the manhandling of the people.
“The incident has gained wide coverage in the local, national as well as some of the international media. Why then, has the Tribal Commission and the National Human Rights Commission failed to take suo moto cognizance of the shameful incident? Is this an indication that the undermining and subverting of our democratic institutions has been fully accomplished by this government?” they asked.
GA said there’senough evidence in public domain for the 2 police officers, one who assaulted the dignity of the tribal woman and the other who violated the human rights of Velingkar, to be placed under suspension and asked why it was not done.
“Vishwajit Rane, the MLA in the contentious IIT issue, happens to be a cabinet minister. His U-turn on the issue is an indication of the strength of people’s unity and pressure in asserting their collective will. It is unfortunate however, that it took violence against his constituents and great suffering of the people for him to finally understand that MLAs are elected to carry out the people’s will. Now what will it take for the Chief Minister and his govt to realize that their loyalty and commitment should be to the people and the welfare of the State and not to the powerful personalities behind this project? When will they break their silence? How many more Goans and tribals must suffer to save the state’s essential forests, its environment and its invaluable cultivable land?” they asked.
GA said it stands in solidarity with the Melauli locals and strongly condemns the savage attempt on the part of the govt to trample on the rights of the tribal people and suppress their democratic right to protest.
