Panjim/Margao: Strongly condemning the police brutality against protesting Shel-Melauli villagers, Congress demanded that an inquiry and action be initiated against the errant police officials.
The Congress delegation led by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Girish Chodankar and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat met Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rajesh Kumar, and demanding that immediate strict action be initiated against all those police officials involved in atrocities against the peacefully protesting women and villagers of Shel-Melauli.
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The delegation also demanded release of all those who are arrested in connection with alleged assault on police and to stop further arrests of any villagers or protestors and to completely withdraw the police force from the village site.
“It is the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen to protest against any decision of the government against people’s wish. It is the duty of the police department to give protection to every citizen of the country. The police officials should not budge against the political pressure and go strictly by the rule book,” the memorandum mentioned.
The police and the protesting villagers on Wednesday got into a major scuffle, wherein police use tear gas and lathicharged the villagers. Several villagers as well as police were injured in the brawl.
Addressing media persons after the meeting IGP, Kamat said that the party has demanded that an inquiry be conducted into the police brutality against the villagers, who were peacefully protesting for their rights. “Action has to be taken against all police personnel involved in the brutality,” he said.
Kamat claimed that police have selectively targeted Congress leaders, who were part of the agitation, and FIRs have been filed against them. “We demand withdrawal of all FIRs filed against the agitators and villagers and also release of all those who are arrested,” he said.
The former Chief Minister urged the BJP-led government to hold dialogues with the protesting villagers and work out a solution rather than adopting a dictatorial approach.
“You cannot impose a project on people against their wishes. You are using the police force to suppress the agitators and go ahead with the project. This is not a democratic approach. Government needs to hold talks with the people,” he said.
Kamat added that during his stint as the Chief Minister he faced several agitations like anti SEZ, MOI, IT Habitat, etc; but never imposed anything on people. “I always held talks with the protestors. Took decisions as they wanted and scrapped projects like SEZ,” he recalled.
Speaking later, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar said that the villagers of Shel Melauli have support of Goans. “If the police try to use force, people from across the State will gather at Melauli in solidarity. This will then create a serious law and order situation and the government will be solely responsible,” he said.
Chodankar urged the govt to have an “emotional” look at villagers’ demands and not to force projects against their wishes.
