Valpoi: Shel Melauli villagers held a protest infront of Valpoi Police Station demanding the release of Dashrath Mandrekar and Vishwesh Prabhu the two leaders of the anti-IIT movement who were arrested on Tuesday by the police for allegedly obstructing government servants from performing their duties in Melauli village.
Mandrekar and Prabhu were granted bail by the JMFC court Valpoi on Wednesday. “We are here to protest the unlawful detention of our leaders Dashrath Mandrekar and Vishwesh Prabhu as all norms were violated to arrest them. Who will be responsible if any unfortunate event happens? If voicing your opinion in a democracy is a crime then arrest all of us”, said the villagers.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“Its the voice of the people that matters in a democracy, we demand a white paper from the Government providing details of the government intent, but the Government is trying to use force to press the voice of Melauli villagers”, the villagers added.
A villager asked, “Why is Government taking all our ancestral land? We have our trees, crops and plants. People have the right to ask questions and it is the Government’s duty to provide justification. The Government is using police force to suppress Melauli’s voice. We never expected such a black day in Goa when people’s voices will be suppressed,” he said.
“The number of people joining the protest is clear indication against the IIT project. It is time the Government scrap the project from Melauli village,” said another villager.
Meanwhile villagers said they will continue their protest against the IIT project.
It may be recalled that Melauli villagers on Tuesday resorted to road blockade and prevented the government officials, who had arrived for the demarcation of IIT proposed land, from entering the village.
