SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
Margao: The Federation of Rainbow Warriors has strongly condemned the gross abuse of section 144 by the Police of Valpoi Police Station to detain 4 persons from Melauli village, preventing them from holding a press conference at Melauli.
The NGO said the villagers were only attempting to explain to Goans their resistance to the attempt to usurp their lands under the guise of IIT Goa and to respond to the recent threats given by the local MLA Vishwajit Rane.
"The current orders of the District Magistrate do not prohibit the holding of a press conference by 4 persons, as was the case in the present instance. In fact, large gatherings with hundreds of people, such as the one at Cansaulim under the directions of the CM and attended by MLAs, are being allowed", they said.
"Numerous press conferences are being held with the many more persons. Commercial activities are being allowed, while poor, farmers following all social distancing norms while exercising their rights are being arrested and threatened by the police. Sattari is the most oppressed taluka in Goa, where the iron grip of feudal landlords has not faded despite 60 years since liberation. The land, which the govt is trying to usurp from the villagers, has belonged to the tribals and other villagers of Melauli for thousands of years, but was mysteriously and illegally transferred to the Revenue Deptartment about 40 years ago" the NGO added.
“We demand that the Police Inspector be immediately suspended, and the role of the local MLA in this allegedly shameful arrest be investigated by an independent, judicial agency, especially in view of the extreme likelihood of further violence against the oppressed sections.We also demand that the rights of the local communities over their lands bearing sy no 67/1, Melauli village must be immediately recognized, thus saving our prestigious IITs from the ignominious branding as a violent, anti-people institution, which will be the biggest loss to our nation" they added.
