MARGAO
Anti-coal protesters are bracing up for yet another legal battle in the courts with the Railway Police filing its second chargesheet, this time against the protesters for opposing the track doubling project passing through the Arossim section.
This is the third case filed by the authorities against the anti-coal protesters in the court of law, and the second case filed by the Railway Police.
The accused named in the chargesheet, including social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai and others, including Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, have all received summons to appear before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, on December 17 at 10 am.
Abhijit said they will come to know the exact details of the case once they appear before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco on December 17. He, however, suspected that the Railway Police must have filed the case against the protesters for agitating against the track doubling project at Arossim in the year 2020. “I and 10 other protesters have received the court summons to appear before the JMFC, Vasco on December 17. We will come to know about the details once the chargesheet is handed over to us in the court,” Abhijit said.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas took to the social media to charge the government for instituting false case against him for raising issues plaguing the people of Goa. “The summons have suddenly appeared from the 2020 coal protest. My performance, my honesty and my courage against useless Ministers seemed to have rattled the BJP,” Venzy said. He added: “I am always with the people for the issues of Goa and people are always with me against such intimidation tactics.”
In the instant case, the anti-coal protesters have been charged under Section 148, 147 and 174 (a) of the Railway Act, 1989.
This is the second case filed by the Railway Police against the anti-coal protesters. The Railway Police had filed the first case against four anti-coal protesters for blocking rail traffic at the Chandor railway station on the night of November 1-2, 2020.
The Goa Police too have lodged another case against the anti-coal protesters for obstructing traffic at the Chandor railway cross on the night of November 1-2, 2020. Trial in both these cases is presently underway before the Court of Judicial Magistrates First Class, Margao.
