MARGAO: The activists, who have been “selectively targeted” and charged by the Railway Police and Maina-Curtorim cops for staging the historic protests in Chandor, have been asked to appear before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao at two hearings scheduled on June 16 and June 26 respectively.
The Railway Police have filed charges under the Railway Act, while the Maina-Curtorim Police have filed charges under IPC
In the first matter, the activists, who were part of the 5,000 plus people during the historic protests in Chandor, were the only ones identified and charged by the Maina Curtorim Police.
These activists had filed discharge applications on the grounds that the charges filed against them be dropped as the prosecution does not have a strong case.
The prosecution which had opposed their discharge applications had informed the court that the statements of the witnesses recorded under Section 161 of CrPC are sufficient to show a prima facie case against the accused persons, adding that the statements of witnesses 4,5,6,7 and 8 shows the names and the roles played by the accused in the case.
The JMFC judge was scheduled to give the order in connection to their discharge applications which will now be pronounced during the next hearing scheduled on June 26.
“How can the police charge us for blocking the road at the Chandor railway crossing when the District Magistrate, South had issued an order closing the road from 10 pm to 5 am. Thousands of people had gathered at the Chandor railway crossing at November 1, 2020 midnight to protest against the track doubling project. Hence, there’s no question of the people blocking the road which was already closed for traffic by the Magistrate,” said Abhijit Prabhudesai, one of the accused persons.
In the second matter before the Margao JMFC, wherein the charges have been filed by the Railway Police regarding the same incident, the hearing was adjourned to June 16.
The activists had earlier questioned why they were selectively targeted given that various others including present MLAs were present for the mega protest.
