SANGUEM
Farmers opposing the IIT project on the farmlands at Cotarli Sanguem secured their first win on Tuesday after the Sanguem Sub Divisional Magistrate dismissed the first of two cases filed by Sanguem Police against the farmers under Section 107 of Criminal Procedure Code.
The case was dismissed at the very first hearing after the SDM found no substance in the matter to charge the farmers under Section 107 of CrPC.
After the hearing, the farmers said the complaint which was dismissed on Tuesday pertained to an alleged incident in October, when the police had charged the farmers of the possibility of disturbing peace and tranquility in Sanguem town.
The police had also alleged that the farmers had violated Section 144 imposed within the vicinity of the proposed site for IIT at Cotarli Sanguem.
The farmers claimed that despite being aware that the farmers were on their agitation at a house located at around 800 metres from the proposed site for the IIT, the police had falsely claimed that the agitation was carried within 200 metres of the proposed site and claimed the farmers had violated Section 144 imposed in the area.
“After going through the complaints and arguments advanced by Adv Stanley Rodrigues appearing for the farmers, the SDM dismissed the complaints as it had no basis and held no valid ground,” informed a farmer Santano Rodrigues.
The agitating farmers while applauding their victory lauded the SDM for giving them justice unlike the men in uniform who are all out to harass them.
Meanwhile, the anti-IIT agitators had appealed to the government to get the project shifted to Farmagudi, where there is vast open land available behind the existing IIT campus.
