BICHOLIM: The truck drivers’ agitation for a hike in ore transportation rates and a stop to illegal mining turned violent on Friday, with miscreants setting fire to a truck and police resorting to a lathi charge at Surla, Bicholim. A Sesa official also alleged that the protestors had tried to attack company officials with swords.
The All Goa Truck Owners’ Association (AGTOA ) had decided to go on strike from Friday, and accordingly blocked the road at Surla in the morning. The Bicholim mamlatdar later convened a meeting with the truckers and Sesa to resolve the issue. As the meeting failed, the truck drivers continued their agitation.
In the evening, the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. One person was injured and shifted to the Sanquelim primary health centre. Additionally, at 2:35 pm, a truck belonging to Sandeep Gaonkar was set on fire by unknown persons.
“The company is trying to start the mine by force and without fulfilling our demands or discussing the same with AGTOA. We will not allow this to happen,” said AGTAO president Nilkhant Gawas, adding, “We don’t know who set fire to the truck or whether it was a short circuit, but we suspect that the mining company might have done it to put the blame on us.”
Gawas stated that their demand was for illegal mining to be stopped. He continued, “The government should check and have control over mining. Untill our demands are met, we will continue our agitation. There is no problem if mining is stopped in Goa, but we will not give up.”
However, Sesa official Shovik Mazumdar claimed that five to six trucks were damaged by the agitating truck owners. He said, “A truck is completely burnt, and they also tried to attack Sesa Goa officials who were on their way to Codli mines with swords.”
He added that the company is hoping that the police and administration take action against the culprits.
Meanwhile, Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant has asked NGOs and others not to misguide the public on the mining issue. He stated, “We want mining to resume in the state as early as possible and so I request everyone to be united. People should not divide each other. We have asked the Chief Minister to take any step to restart mining.”
