VASCO
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Railway Police on Tuesday registered separate offences against Abhijit Prabhudesai and other agitators in connection with the Rail Roko agitation at Arossim, after accusing them of encroaching on the rail tracks at Arrosim and causing delay of trains.
Sources in the RPF said around 200 persons under the leadership of Abhijit Prabhudesai had squatted on the railway tracks between Cansaulim and Majorda Railway station from 10.30 pm to 3.30 am.
"They protested and asked the Railways to stop transportation of coal and also obstructed train movement and hence, the trains were delayed.”
“The RPF has registered a case against Abhijit Prabhudesai and other agitators under Sections 146 147 and 174 (a) of Railways Act for encroachment on the rail tracks at Cansaulim, resulting in the delay of trains. Strict action will be taken against those persons who obstruct train movement," said the source.
Meanwhile, the Railway Police has also registered an offence under unlawful assembly, rioting and obstructing public servants in discharge of public functions sections against the agitators.
"We have registered an offence against Prabhudesai and other agitators for unlawful assembly with an intention to block the movement of trains.”
“The offences have been registered under sections of Railways Act along with sections 143,147 and 186 of IPC. We have registered a case against Prabhudesai, Zina Fernandes, John Douglas, Cecille Rodrigues, Anthony Fernandes, Anthony D’Silva, Sandesh Telekar, Vikas Bhagat, Anish Araujo, Venzy Viegas, Diana Travasso and others," said the source.
It may be recalled that hundreds of people from different parts of the State had blocked the tracks as part of a 12-hour vigil at Arossim village.
A number of protestors had squatted on the railway tracks and lit candles on the concrete sleepers of the tracks. Groups then performed jingles at the venue, as people had gathered with placards and begun chanting slogans against the three projects.
