4 activists get chargesheets for track-doubling protests

MARGAO
The Margao Judicial Magistrate First Class on Saturday served chargesheets to the four activists in connection with the agitation against double-tracking of railways at Chandor. 

Drama unfolded in and around the Margao civil court building on Saturday after the four activists opposing anti-track doubling and the three linear projects appeared before the court in the morning, while protesters assembled outside to express their solidarity with the four.

While the four activists Abhijit Prabhudesai, Diana Tavares, Freddy Travasso and Vikas Bhagat made their appearance before the JMFC Margao Ankita Nagvekar and were served the chargesheets, a number of protesters and activists assembled outside with the sole purpose of expressing their solidarity and to send a signal that they are solidly behind the four persons implicated in the case.

When the case was called up in the open courtroom, the public prosecutor representing the Railway Protection Force was conspicuous by his absence. A lawyer representing the four protesters submitted before the court that the Public Prosecutor, who normally represents the railways in court matters, could not appear since he was not given a brief by the RPF.

A police personnel, who was present in the courtroom, was questioned by the judge over the absence of the public prosecutor. After the four protesters were served the chargesheets, the judge adjourned the hearing to June 15. The lawyer representing Abhijit and others, Adv Stanley Rodrigues, later told the media that the judge has adjourned the matter to June 15. “At the next date of hearing, the substance of the accusation will be explained to the four persons and they will be asked whether they plead guilty to the charges,” he said.

Adv Stanley told the media that the chargesheet pertains to the peaceful agitation by thousands of Goans at Chandor on November 1-2 midnight to oppose the three linear projects. “I would say the law is equal for everyone. When thousands of people protested at Chandor, only five have been named as accused. Amongst the thousands of protesters were then Leader of Opposition, a former Deputy CM, MLAs, then political activists and now MLAs, but their names do not figure. This is selective targeting of my clients, who have been environmental warriors, fighting every battle to protect the people and their environment”, Adv Stanley said.

He lamented that when even the Supreme Court had accepted the recommendation of the CEC on the Tamnar power project, activists on the ground are facing the brunt of the law. “The Supreme Court ruling on the Tamnar project is the result of the people’s agitation. We are confident the SC will scrap the track doubling project as well,” he added.