VALPOI
Tension mounted on Wednesday after locals from Shel-Melauli protested at the Valpoi police station, demanding the release of two leaders arrested on charges of protesting against IIT project.
Valpoi Block Congress President Dashrath Mandrekar and AAP volunteer Vishwesh Prabhu were arrested by Valpoi police on Tuesday night on charges of obstructing government officials on land survey duty at the IIT project site.
Mandrekar and Prabhu were arrested under Section 353 IPC (deterring public servants from discharge of duty) and they were in police custody. Incidentally, Vishwesh Prabhu is the son of former Valpoi MLA Ashok Prabhu.
Furious over the arrest of Mandrekar and Prabhu, a large number of anti-IIT protestors marched to the Valpoi police station to demand the release of the two leaders.
Supporters of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also took part in the three-hour agitation.
The protestors of the Congress, AAP and Shel-Melauli Panchkroshi Samiti warned that any attempt to take further action against protestors would be met by serious consequences.
Mandrekar and Prabhu were later released on personal bail of Rs 10,000 by the Valpoi Judicial Magistrate First Class.
Following his release, Mandrekar claimed that the Constitution gave every citizen the right to protest.
“However, the BJP government is trying to suppress public opposition against the IIT and this is really unfortunate. I was arrested and treated badly,” said Mandrekar.
Aam Aadmi Party interim convenor Rahul Mhambre accused the government of using police force to suppress the voice of the common man.
Mhambre visited Valpoi amid the ongoing protest by Shel-Melauli villagers against the proposed IIT project.
“It’s the voice of the people that matters in democracy. Villagers of Melauli demand a white paper from the government with details of the intent. Instead, the government is trying to use force to muzzle their voices,” Mhambre said.
AAP volunteers staged a protest in front of Valpoi police station demanding the immediate release of AAP volunteer Vishwesh Prabhu, who was arrested on Tuesday night for participating in the ongoing protest by Shel-Melauli villagers.
Prabhu has recently recovered from Covid-19 and concerns were raised about his safety while in the lockup.
Among the Congress leaders present during the agitation included Sankalp Amonkar, Varad Mardolkar, Janardan Bhandari and Roshan Desai.
The Congress leaders also held talks with DySP Gajanan Prabhudesai at the Valpoi police station.
The protestors have refused to allow officials to continue with land survey work at the IIT project site at Shel-Melauli.
