BICHOLIM: One person was injured during a mild police lathicharge after a mining truck was set ablaze and three trucks stoned, as the agitation by truck operators took a violent turn at Pale-Surla on Friday.
According to reports, the incident took place during an agitation by the All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) along the Pale-Kothambe-Bombay road junction.
AGTOA President Nilkanth Gawas has, however, alleged the incident could have been a “mischief” played by a mining company to create a rift between sections of truck owners, to put the blame on AGTOA.
“There is also a possibility that the truck could have caught fire due to a short circuit,” said Gawas.
The AGTOA had decided to agitate after accusing the State government of failing to keep a check over illegalities by mining companies and for failing to take AGTOA members into confidence.
A number of truck operators had participated in the agitation and Bicholim Mamlatdar Gurudas Desai along with Bicholim DySP Ramesh Gaonkar, PI Ninad Deulkar and a police team had rushed to the site to prevent any untoward incident.
Desai and DySP Gaonkar later convened a joint meeting with truck operators and mining company officials in the presence of Bicholim Deputy Collector Mahadev Arondekar in his chamber, to arrive at an amicable solution. The meeting, however, did not yield any result.
At about 2.30 pm, the agitation took a violent turn when a mining truck (GA-09-U-4495), belonging to Sandeep Gaonkar from Dabhal, was set ablaze at Surla, while three mining trucks were stoned.
As the situation turned tense, police resorted to a minor lathicharge on the agitators to disperse the mob. One agitator was injured during the lathicharge and he was shifted to PHC Sakhali.
The owner of the truck which was set ablaze later filed a police complaint in the matter, while fire officials have claimed that the damage is estimated at Rs 6 lakh.
Reacting to the development, AGTOA President Nilkanth Gawas said the association members had condemned the incident.
“We are unaware as to who had set fire to the truck. It could even have been a short circuit and there is a possibility that a mining company could have played this mischief to put the blame on us,” alleged Gawas.
“The company is trying to start mining activity without fulfilling our demands and without discussing the issue with us,” Gawas added.
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AS IT HAPPENED IN PALE-SURLA
* Agitation by All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) takes place along the Pale-Kothambe-Bombay road
* The agitation takes a violent turn when a mining truck is set ablaze at Surla, while three mining trucks are stoned
* The situation turns tense, police resorts to a minor lathicharge injuring an agitator
* The owner of the burnt truck later files a police complaint. Fire officials estimate the damage at Rs 6 lakh
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NGOs URGED NOT TO
MISGUIDE PEOPLE
* Sakhali MLA Dr Pramod Sawant called upon NGOs not to misguide the people and requested the mining-affected segments not to fall prey to such misguided statements.
* Sawant was hopeful of mining activities resuming “as early as possible by taking into consideration all the aspects that will be legal.”
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