STHRIGDHARA NAIK
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SATTARI: It’s been two years since the brutal police crackdown on the residents of Shel-Melaulim in Sattari for protesting against the proposed IIT campus. But the hurt and anger has refused to subside due to non-withdrawal of criminal cases filed against them during anti- IIT stir.
With elections now just 10 days away, the villagers have decided to vent their ire on the government through their vote. They will be putting forward their three key demands before the new government. If these demands are not met, they will hit the streets again.
Shashikant Savordekar, a local resident of Melaulim said, “Once the next government comes into power, we will put forward our three major demands viz. transferring the land rights back to locals, withdrawal of criminal cases filed against the locals of Melaulim along with withdrawal of cases filed with the Panchayat Director by IIT Goa over the issue of IIT Goa compound wall construction. The agitation will be resumed if our demands are not met.”
“Assembly election being round the corner, now the ball is in people’s court to decide and vote wisely to save Sattari from destruction. Being forced to face multiple hardships, the Melaulim villagers, especially the youths, will cast their vote against the ruling party,” he said.
Savordekar further said, “Youths of Melaulim had to suffer a lot without any fault. Another issue that is haunting the locals of Sattari is marking of Vagheri hill for setting up of an unknown project”. According to him, Vagheri hill is a rich source of flora and fauna. “There will be a major environmental destruction that will lead to ecological imbalance if any construction activity happens here,” the resident added.
Ushma Melekar, a young nurse from Melaulim said, “The police beat us and slapped multiple fake cases against us as punishment for raising voice to save our land. Now also, villagers who were part of this agitation are deliberately subjected to face the hardships. The locals are deprived of government jobs.”
Anil Melekar, a local youth said that though there are no cases against him, many of his friends have booked under severe charges such as attempt to murder.
Shankar Naik, who was one of the protestors said, “I have been booked under 17 sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). There is no point approaching the MLA. He has never addressed our grievances – neither before deciding to get IIT in our village nor when we were booked with fake criminal cases.”
He however added that the residents won’t boycott the Assembly elections. “We will rather vote against the person who is root cause of all the problems. There are multiple issues pertaining to land itself – be it land ownership issue, illegal encroachment, issues regarding Alvara or Mokashi land to point a few,” Naik said.
Agreeing with Naik, another local Yogesh Melekar said a meeting will be called to decide on villagers’ stand on Assembly polls,” he informed.
Total 40 locals of Shel-Melaulim were booked under various criminal charges including attempt to murder at the time of IIT-agitation around two years ago.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who is also MLA of Valpoi, had urged Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to stop the project in Melaulim village and withdraw the cases registered on IIT protesters. The cases have not been withdrawn till date.
