Team Herald
PANJIM: Panjim Police have charged 79 persons with creating a ruckus in the State capital and on the two Mandovi bridges during a protest against closure of mining in March this year.
The 350-page charge sheet, filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panjim, has also recorded statements of 108 witnesses and attached evidence in the form of newspaper clips, video footage sourced from the news channels and those captured on drone cameras.
Around 3,000 mining dependents had gathered in the city to launch a stir against the closure of mines. The protest turned violent and defying orders of the authorities the protestors had blocked the national highways and the two bridges for nearly six hours leading to a massive traffic congestion and inconvenience to many commuters, including students who were answering their Board exams.
The alleged accused have also been charged with threatening the law enforcers with dire consequences, hurling abuses in filthy language and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, National Highways Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
