VALPOI
Twenty-two anti-IIT protesters from Melauli-Sattari have accused the State government of reneging on its promise to withdraw cases against them.
The protesters were speaking to reporters outside the Valpoi court after the first hearing in the matter.
Clashes had erupted between anti-IIT agitators and police on January 6, 2021 as government officials were in the process of conducting a survey at the proposed site at Shel-Melauli.
Cases were then registered against 22 persons at the Valpoi police station and a chargesheet was filed in the court at Valpoi.
The accused included Dashrath Mandrekar, Vishwesh Parob, Roshan Desai, Shashikant Sawardekar, Unnati Melekar, Pooja Melekar, Usha Melekar, Sandeep Naik, Sidhu Gaonkar, Urmila Melekar, Ramnath Usapkar, Kalpesh Melekar, Sia Sawardekar, Chandrakant Bhamaikar, Rohidas Melekar, Krishna Kaskar Vasant Melekar, Mangesh Melekar, Prabhakar Gawde, Lakshmi Melekar and Vidisha Sawardekar.
During the first hearing, all 22 locals were present in court.
Speaking to reporters, they said the government had cancelled the IIT project at Melauli and had promised to withdraw cases against them.
“However, the government has not fulfilled its promise and has done injustice to us. We demand that the government immediately withdraw the cases filed against all those who protested against the IIT project proposed at Shel-Melauli,” said Dashrath Mandrekar.
The next hearing in the case will take place on February 15.
