RTI forum organizers lodge police complaint

Times of India: Goa: Wednesday, March 13, 2013.

The organizers of the Goa RTI forum lodged a police complaint on Tuesday with regard to the incident where over 400 people representing the mining dependent community disrupted an 'invite-only' meeting convened by the forum at Margao on March 2. The complaint further attached a photograph of the nephew of Sanguem MLA Subash Phaldesai who they allege appeared to have led the agitation.

"The mob had gathered in large numbers with an intention to cause injury, trouble, violence and assault RTI Forum members. The mob was instigated by the mining mafia which is in association with the authorities and politicians who have so far not acted against the said mob and instigators," said Goa RTI Forum secretary Shrikant Barve in his complaint.

Margao police said they had received the complaint which was being forwarded to the South Goa superintendent of police Shekhar Prabhudesai and inquiries would be initiated into the matter.

Barve pointed out that activists Ramesh Gawas and Bhushan Bhave were to address the invited members to discuss the various aspects of the Shah Commission on the mining report. He said that as the police were not offering protection to hold the meeting, the RTI forum was then required against its wishes to call off the meeting.

Barve further stated that the police ought to have allowed the meeting by controlling the illegal mob and that there had been a serious lapse of duty on part of the authorities.

"Close to the time of the scheduled opening of the meeting, a group of uninvited people forcibly gathered in the hall. They were politely requested to leave, but they refused to cooperate," said Barve.

He added that within half-an-hour, hundreds of people had gathered around the venue. The so called pro-mining unruly illegal mob entered the venue building. "RTI forum members were forced to stay inside the hall which amounted to wrongful confinement," said Barve. He pointed out that some of the members of the RTI forum were attacked and threatened with dire consequences while leaving the premises.