MARGAO: More than three years after the historic protests in Chandor against double tracking, anti-coal activists are still having to deal with the court cases at the Margao Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) and Vasco JMFC.
After the famous Chandor midnight vigil on November 1-2, 2020, where thousands of citizens and activists participated, the Railways and Goa police had selectively charged a few activists in these cases, while exempting the political class from accusations.
The initial case before the Margao JMFC involved four anti-coal activists, with the Railway police filing a charge sheet under the Railway Act, 1989, for obstructing rail traffic at Chandor railway station on the night of the protests.
Similarly, in another case before the Margao JMFC, the Goa police had filed a charge sheet against 10 anti-coal activists under the IPC, accusing them of obstructing vehicular traffic at the Chandor railway crossing on the same night. The activists sought discharge, arguing that the road was already closed by the South Goa district Magistrate for double track laying. However, the court denied their plea, subjecting the accused activists to trial.
“At present, the status of both these cases are at the evidence stage and the complainant will be examined at the next hearing date,” said the lawyer representing the activists.
In the third criminal case, which involves a protest that was held in Arossim against the double tracking project, Railway police have initiated proceedings against 10 activists before the Vasco JMFC, also under the Railway Act, 1989. “In this case, the inquiry is before the charge stage while the complainant will be examined at the next hearing,” the lawyer added.
However, these activists have remained steadfast in their assertion that the truth will prevail despite government attempts to harass those fighting to save Goa.
They, along with the hundreds of others who had also protested at Chandor, have questioned why only a handful of activists were selectively targeted and not the others who were present, politicians who were in the Opposition then and are now MLAs or supporters of the ruling party.
