MARGAO
Davorlim literally resembled a garrison village late Sunday night.
Lathi-wielding policemen took positions along the entire road leading to the Davorlim railway crossing from the Davorlim panchayat ghar.
And, the situation was no different on the other side of the railway crossing.
In fact, not taking any chances, more so after they were taken by surprise at Chandor the previous Sunday night, police machinery was mobilized in strength at the Davorlim railway crossing as a precautionary measure on Sunday night.
Barricades were moved in near the railway crossing on Sunday evening itself, while the police sent messages to the police stations located in the Margao police sub-division to report at Davorlim around 10 pm to 10.30 pm.
And, even before the people could reach the railway crossing late Sunday evening, the police presence was felt around in a big way, indicating that the men-in-uniform meant business this time round.
At the Chandor railway crossing, the police and district administration were caught off guard when thousands of protestors descended on the railway tracks to stage their protest against the track doubling and coal transportation projects.
The police mobilization at the Davorlim level crossing also assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the administration was worried that a repeat of Chandor would affect movement of trains on the Konkan railway route.
Unlike Chandor, which plays host to the South Western Railway (SWR) line, the Davorlim railway line caters to both SWR and the Konkan railway. While the Chandor agitation had disrupted rail services o the SWR for around five hours, sources said any such repeat at Davorlim would have affected passenger services on the Konkan railway, disrupting long distance trains running on the Konkan railway track.
The Goan understands that police from all the police stations across South Goa was requisitioned at Davorlim as a precautionary measure. Over a dozen buses and other police vehicles were found parked along the road side.
Given that women formed huge part of the Chandor crowd, one could come across lady police personnel in strength at Davorlim.
While DySP Sahil Narangal, IPS was on the ground monitoring the force deployment, SP South Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS was apparently kept abreast of the situation minute by minute.
Salcete Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar along with an executive Magistrate were on the site monitoring the situation.
