VASCO
After several rounds of discussions and amid drama, including the pealing of a chapel bell, police teams finally moved hundreds of agitators, who had been staging a 12-hour vigil away from the railways tracks at Arossim in the wee hours of Saturday.
Members and supporters of Goyant Kollso Naka (GKN) and several groups had been squatting on the tracks at Arossim since 10.30 pm on Friday to oppose the three controversial projects of double-tracking, coal transportation and Tanmar power lines.
Considering the movement of cargo trains after midnight, Mormugao DySP Raju Raut Desai and several police inspectors held discussions with the agitators, requesting them to refrain from blocking the tracks but the agitators refused to budge causing tense moments between the agitators and police.
After several rounds of discussions failed, the police attempted to move the agitators off the tracks, but they demanded the presence of the Collector or be provided with details of which trains would be moving along the tracks at night.
In the wee hours of Saturday, Mormugao Mamlatdar Dhiren Banaulikar arrived at the site and spoke to the leaders, explaining that blocking of railway tracks was against the law and could invite action and registration of offences.
He appealed to the agitators to move away from the tracks, failing which police would be forced to act.
While Banaulikar defused the tension, many agitators were still not convinced and pledged to continue the protest against the linear projects.
Considering the large number of agitators, the police then summoned an additional force and the RPF police also arrived at the site with batons and shields, fuelling speculation that the protest would end with a lathi charge.
Amid the chaos and tension of a huge police force with riot gear arriving at the site, some locals began pealing the bell of a nearby chapel in a bid to alert more villagers to join in the agitation, but authorities present at the site persuaded the people to stop the activity.
On two occasions, the horns of a train could be heard from afar, but the agitators continued sitting on the tracks and the trains did not pass by Arossim, indicating that the trains may have been stopped from proceeding since the protesters were on the tracks.
Lady police staff were then positioned along the tracks and fearing a lathi charge and use of tear gas, the protesters requested the police to avoid force as they were ready to be arrested.
At around 1.30 am, SP (South) Pankaj Kumar Singh arrived at the site and continued the discussion with the agitators.
Some agitators later agreed to move away from the tracks at around 3 am. The police then cleared the tracks and the agitators moved to the other side.
While most agitators left the site, some of them continued to protest on the
other side. The police then asked them to leave the site and the area was cleared by around 3.30 am.
