VALPOI
Locals from Shel-Melauli in Sattari reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of cases against locals in clashes with police during the protests against the IIT project in January.
Yielding to intense public pressure and opposition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later dropped plans to set up the IIT project in Melauli.
The residents put forth their demand on Sunday after they planted about 500 saplings at the site which had initially been reserved for the IIT project.
Clashes had erupted between locals and police on January 5 and 6 over the survey work being conducted for the controversial IIT project.
Locals opposing the IIT project were outraged as survey work was being conducted at the proposed site and the presence of a huge police force at the site.
Police fired tear gas on protesters and lathi-charged them in a bid to rein in the agitation, while the protesters retaliated by hurling stones at the police. A number of police personnel and locals were injured in the clashes.
Cases were filed against dozens of protesters, but anger against the government prompted residents from other villages in Sattari to march to the project site in support of the protesting locals.
With protests against the project building up, the government eventually cancelled plans to set up the IIT in Melauli but is yet to withdraw cases against the agitating protesters.
