The activist assembled at Tilamol junction and since the ore transportation continued despite public protest they decided to take out peaceful rally after a short discussion. The procession commenced from Tilamol junction went upto the Quepem Civil Court and returned at Tilamol, with people holding placards in their hands and shouting the slogan “We want Mining Bypass road”.
PI Ravindra Dessai who holds additional charge of Quepem police station informed that the day went off peacefully without any untoward incident and the ore transportation was carried out with police protection.
Convenor Pradip Kakodkar said they were looking at various legal options as they continue their protest on road. “The government is trying to curb our agitation by using police force. But I am confident that slowly and gradually, we will be able to draw more than thousand people on the road,” he said.
Kakodkar said that they would not create law and order situation even though government used police force and tried to curb their peaceful agitation on Monday.
Kakodkar alleged that the government and the mining lobby were hand and glove, as such the government has conveniently ignored the a Supreme Court order and the resolutions passed by the Quepem Municipality and Xeldem panchayat.
It may be recalled that Quepem police on Monday arrested Mission Bypass Convenor Pradip Kakodkar and six others including a woman activist for obstructing ore transportation at Tilamol. They were later released by the Quepem deputy collector after furnishing personal bonds.
