VALPOI
An uneasy calm prevailed at Shel-Melauli on Saturday as the government team did not conduct demarcation work but locals assembled at the IIT project site and a smaller police force was stationed at all entry points to Melauli.
However, there were no detentions or arrets reported on Saturday unlike on Friday when several youths were detained for trying to enter the villages.
There were speculations that the absence of demarcation work and the fewer police personnel at Melauli was on account of the deployment of police security during Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s visit to the State.
The locals, however, continued to assemble at the IIT project site, while a few policemen remained stationed at all entry points to Melauli. The village remained largely peaceful following clashes between police and locals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Valpoi Block Congress Committee denounced the FIR registered against Congress leaders and locals of Shel-Melauli for the clashes.
“The State government is trying to suppress the agitation by using police force and they will not succeed. The Congress has fully supported this agitation right from the beginning and it will continue to do so in future,” said Congress Block General Secretary Nandkumar Kopardekar at a news conference in Valpoi on Saturday evening.
“The government should consider the demands of Melauli locals to scrap this project and to grant them land ownership rights,” Kopardekar added.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Goa Legislators' Day programme in Panaji, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that his government was people oriented and not insensitive to issues faced by people. “Tell us when we are wrong. This is a people oriented govt. Govt is not insensitive. We are ready listen to the people,” the Chief Minister said.
