PONDA: Bhoma locals who had gathered at the Ponda Deputy Collector’s office in connection with the cases filed against them by police, were upset to see that Deputy Collector postponed the hearing on notices issued to them on the National Highway expansion protest which was held on December 20 last year.
The villagers claimed that the government is harassing the 22 Bhomkars for holding the peaceful agitation. They argued that it’s their constitutional right to express dissent but they are pressurised to remain silent and their right to protest has been snatched from them.
Rajendra Naik said on December 20, when authorities had come to conduct a survey for valuation and demarcation of trees at Bhoma, 150 locals had gathered and asked for documents, alignment of NH expansion but instead they were detained in three buses and kept at Collem.
Further on last 7 January, out of 150 locals detained, only 22 were issued notices to be present before deputy collector on February 2 and submit a bond and also assurance to maintain peace for six month. Accordingly, they had arrived on Friday, at the deputy collector’s office, Ponda, to give their say on the cases by taking leave from their office work, but the deputy collector postponed the hearing to February 5. Naik said, “We are daily wage earners and can’t takes frequent leave to attend to cases.”
Sanjay Naik said, among 150 Citizens even sarpanch and panchayat members were detained but they are spared and not issued notices. “This shows that the 22 Bhomkars are harassed and that government is trying to suppress their voice. However Bhomkars would continue to fight to save village culture and temples and houses,” he added.
