VALPOI
A group of locals from Shel-Melauli on Saturday staged yet another protest rally outside the Valpoi police station, this time after some locals received notices from police regarding the IIT issue.
The locals have been insisting that they have not committed any offence. They later submitted a memorandum to the Valpoi police and warned that they would intensify their agitation if further notices were issued to locals protesting against the proposed IIT project at Shel-Melauli.
Valpoi police had sent notices to eight protesters who took part in the agitation at the Guleli panchayat on September 3.
Upset over the notices issued to the eight protesters, a large number of locals staged a procession from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk and proceeded to the Valpoi police station at around 11 am.
Alleging that notices had been sent to locals who had not participated in the September 3 agitation, the protestors accused the government of trying to silence the protesters.
The locals also accused authorities for charging some for obstructing the survey team and sought to know who had lodged the complaint.
“This is an attempt to stifle public voice by sending unwarranted notices to locals,” said Shashikant Savardekar, one of the leaders of the anti-IIT agitation.
A statement signed by about 250 people was later submitted by Savardekar to Valpoi PSI Raghoba Kamat at the Valpoi police station.
PSI Kamat explained that notices had been issued to some locals in connection with the protests at the Guleli panchayat on September 3.
Later speaking to reporters, Savardekar said the agitation had been peaceful thus far, even though there had been considerable pressure on protesters.
“But if the government is provoking us to escalate the agitation in a violent manner, we are ready for it. The agitation would not an end till the IIT is moved out of Guleli. The protesters are ready to respond to any attempt by the government to silence them,” said Savardekar.
