MARGAO
From waging a sustained battle along the dusty tracks of the South Western Railway to save the environment for over two years now, activists and citizens brace up for another battle “ legal battle in the courts as the Union of India and the State have filed a host of chargesheets against the track doubling protesters in the court of law.
In fact, a group of five protesters, including activist Abhijit Prabhudesai have received summons from the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao to appear before the Judge on April 16 to face charges under the Railway Act as per the chargesheet filed by the Railway police.
That’s not all. The Goan understands that two more chargesheets have been filed against the protesters in the court of law by the Maina-Curtorim police station and the Konkan Railway police station, with sources saying it is a matter of time the court issues summons to all the persons named in the chargesheet.
In the instant case relating to the chargesheet filed by the Railways, the Court has issued summons to five persons, including Abhijit Prabhudesai, Diana Tavares, Freddy Travasso, Vikas Bhagat. The Court has summoned the five persons to answer charges under Section 146, 147 and 174(a) of the Railway Act, 1989. The charges pertain to alleged trespass and obstruction and for squatting and picketing during the historic agitation at Chandor when thousands of protesters had descended from all corners of the State to protest and oppose the track doubling project.
Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said he and the other activists named in the chargesheet are all gearing up for the legal battle. “We will come to know of the exact charges when we make our appearance in the Court on the day of hearing and are being served the chargesheets. But, we are all bracing up for the ensuing legal battle. We and the people of Goa had all descended on the battlefield two years ago with the sole purpose of protecting the State’s environment for posterity. And, we will continue our battle,” Abhijit said.
Thousands of protesters had descended on the South Western Railway tracks at Chandor on the midnight of November 1-2 after the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd drew up plans to lay the double track at the Chandor railway station by closing the road.
The Railways, however, beat a retreat and did not proceed with the work of laying the double track at the Chandor railway crossing after thousands of people from all corners of the State descended on the railway tracks to observe a candle lit vigil, inviting the wrath of the Railways which claimed the protesters had obstructed the smooth movement of the goods trains during the period of the agitation.
“We will engage our lawyers to defend our case in the court. We have been waging a battle to save Goa’s environment and its future,” Abhijit added.
Maina-Curtorim Police file chargesheet in Margao court
MARGAO: If the track doubling protesters have received summons in the case registered by the Railway police on behalf of the Union of India, the Maina-Curtorim police is believed to have filed a chargesheet against the persons named in the FIR in the Margao court.
Maina-Curtorim officials confirmed that the police has sent the chargesheet in the court of law against the accused persons in the FIR.
The Maina-Curtorim police had registered an FIR against a group of protesters three days after the November 1-2 midnight candle light vigil at the Chandor railway tracks for offences such as rioting and unlawful assembly.
In fact, days after the registration of the FIR, the Maina-Curtorim police had then summoned activists Abhijit Prabhudesai and Sandesh Talekar to the police station for an inquiry.
