Team Herald

SANGUEM: The villagers of Darguinim Uguem led by women folk blocked the mineral ore transportation from Timblo mines at Tolem in the morning session, on Tuesday.

The blockade was however cleared soon after the men in uniform picked up the agitators and took them to the police station. Though police did not place any of the agitating women under arrest, the policemen were reportedly on the lookout for Guru Velip, the ‘mastermind’ behind the agitation in the village.

The villagers were later allowed to go home. However, they were informed by the police that a joint meeting of the villagers and the mine officials is being convened on December 14 for an amicable settlement in the matter.

Villagers speaking to Herald highly decried of the police action despite the villagers having patiently waiting for the last one week to meet the company officials.

Agitating villagers claim that despite the police officials having arranged a meeting on Monday, neither the company officials nor its representatives appeared at the police station thereby creating doubts over the so called meetings convened by the policemen.

It is pertinent to note here that the villagers are demanding a compensation of Rs 50 per tonne of ore transported through their ancestral property. Claiming that the illegal transportation activity is damaging their plantation, the villagers say that the mining company has no right to undertake transportation activity through their ancestral property.

The villagers have been vehemently demanding the production of documents from the mining company which authorises them transportation of ore through their property which the villagers allege the company to have failed to produce as of date.