VALPOI
Locals of Shel-Melauli on Tuesday warned that they would not withdraw their agitation until the government gave a written assurance to drop all cases against 40 locals booked in connection with clashes with police over the anti-IIT agitation.
The locals expressed their anger after a protest rally by vehicles to other parts of Valpoi constituency was stopped by a large police force at Gangem while it was proceeding from Guleli to Usgao via Gangem, on grounds that the rally did not have permission. Incidentally, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was to attend a function at Ganjem.
The locals have been requesting the government to withdraw all cases against the 40 persons and to take back the land allotted to the IIT.
When all efforts failed, the locals decided to launch an agitation outside the Guleli Panchayat since last week.
On Monday, the locals continued their agitation in the Guleli panchayat till late night, despite appeals from Sattari Deputy Collector Pravin Parab, BDO Suryajirao Rane, the Valpoi Police Inspector Harish Gawas and a police team.
On Tuesday, a public appeal was made for a protest rally by vehicles and a large number of motorists took part in the rally. The rally began from Guleli and was proceeding to Usgao via Gangem, but a police force stopped the rally at Gangem as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was inaugurating a WRD project at Gangem and the protest rally could lead to an untoward incident.
Ponda Police Inspector Mohan Gawde later clarified that the protesters were stopped at Gangem as they did not have permission to stage the vehicle rally. This led to heated arguments between the protestors and police.
After that, the protest rally moved towards other parts of Sattari, including Khotoda, Savarde, Nagargao and Valpoi.
Speaking to reporters, leaders of the agitation, Shashikant Savardekar, Shuvam Shivalkar and Shankar Naik said they have given the government four days to withdraw all charges against the 40 locals, failing which the agitation would be intensified.
Meanwhile, the Guleli panchayat office was closed on Tuesday amid fears that the protesters would continue their agitation in the panchayat office.
The locals expressed their anger after a protest rally by vehicles to other parts of Valpoi constituency was stopped by a large police force at Gangem while it was proceeding from Guleli to Usgao via Gangem, on grounds that the rally did not have permission. Incidentally, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was to attend a function at Ganjem.
The locals have been requesting the government to withdraw all cases against the 40 persons and to take back the land allotted to the IIT.
When all efforts failed, the locals decided to launch an agitation outside the Guleli Panchayat since last week.
On Monday, the locals continued their agitation in the Guleli panchayat till late night, despite appeals from Sattari Deputy Collector Pravin Parab, BDO Suryajirao Rane, the Valpoi Police Inspector Harish Gawas and a police team.
On Tuesday, a public appeal was made for a protest rally by vehicles and a large number of motorists took part in the rally. The rally began from Guleli and was proceeding to Usgao via Gangem, but a police force stopped the rally at Gangem as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was inaugurating a WRD project at Gangem and the protest rally could lead to an untoward incident.
Ponda Police Inspector Mohan Gawde later clarified that the protesters were stopped at Gangem as they did not have permission to stage the vehicle rally. This led to heated arguments between the protestors and police.
After that, the protest rally moved towards other parts of Sattari, including Khotoda, Savarde, Nagargao and Valpoi.
Speaking to reporters, leaders of the agitation, Shashikant Savardekar, Shuvam Shivalkar and Shankar Naik said they have given the government four days to withdraw all charges against the 40 locals, failing which the agitation would be intensified.
Meanwhile, the Guleli panchayat office was closed on Tuesday amid fears that the protesters would continue their agitation in the panchayat office.
