PANAJI
About 100 alleged protesters were detained from three separate spots in the capital city by Panaji Police on Saturday.
Protesters were picked up by the police for suspicious activity at the Panaji bus stand, near the Panaji Church and at another prominent location in the capital city before the President's convoy was expected to arrive in Panaji.
The authorities feared that members of the Save Mollem movement and various other members of the civil society who are presently raising their voices about pressing issues concerning the welfare of Goa and its people would attempt to draw the attention of the President to their cause through spontaneous protests.
The police claimed that these persons were rounded up and detained to maintain law and order during the visit to the city by President Ram Nath Kovind for inauguration of Goa's 60th Liberation Year celebrations.
Panaji Police informed that the detainees were put in a bust and sent to Ponda and that they will be released at a later stage.
However, those who were detained vehemently denied having any links with these movements. While some persons claimed that they were visiting a local cafe for an evening tea, another detainee alleged that he was caught by the cops merely for wearing a t-shirt bearing "Goa Protect" slogan.
The detained persons unanimously questioned the quality of freedom being enjoyed by Goans if free citizens were detained without a reasonable cause on the day of Goa's Liberation.
Last night a huge crowd had gathered at Arossim railway line to protest Mollem projects and transportation of coal in Goa.
Hundreds of people from different parts of the State had blocked the tracks as part of a 12-hour vigil. Members and supporters of Goyant Kollso Naka and several groups are agitating against the three controversial projects -- double tracking, coal transportation and the Tanmar power lines.
