Activist and lawyer Albertina Almeida, amongst the seven persons detained, suspects foul play in a letter claiming an earlier decision on withdrawal of land acquisition is cancelled.
Speaking to Herald after her release late Saturday night, Almeida said the panchayat is misleading the people on the issue during the lockdown period. “About 10-12 years ago, the gram sabha had resolved not to acquire the land which was proposed for the panchayat ghar. Accordingly, the village panchayat wrote to the BDO withdrawing land acquisition,” she said.
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“There was no activity all these years and suddenly during the lockdown period, trucks began making trips to this place unloading mud in the field,” she added.
On Saturday, when the activists, joined by concerned citizens in solidarity with the land owners, came on the streets seeking justice, they were picked up by the police.
Almeida said she was in a discussion with the mamlatdar when she was detained. During the discussion, when the activists confronted the panchayat members, the sarpanch showed a letter on cancellation of withdrawal of land acquisition. The activist said she suspects the letter could not be true to the facts as the Deputy Collector had no copy of further communication in this regard.
Cecile Rodrigues who was also among the detainees, also demanded authenticated documents with regards to the project.
“There should be a moratorium on non-essential development project where people have no possibility of democratic discussion and no access to immediate justice,” the activists said.
