Mob attacks SEZ site at Verna

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-08-20
VASCO - The protest against SEZs took an ugly turn when a mob of around 100 people entered the premises of K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd at Verna on Tuesday morning and assaulted around 15 people including security personnel and labour at the site. The mob also damaged computers and furniture. Eyewitnesses said that the activists led by Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Virodhi Manch forced their entry into the premises and overpowered the security personnel causing injuries.
According to the eyewitnesses while a group held a morcha at the entrance others broke into smaller groups and attacked the labour camps, assaulted them and drove the workers away. Eyewitnesses further added that huts of the labourers were also broken. The mob damaged three computer sets and window panels of the office of Raheja Developers. The episode ended in around 15 minutes and the mob later dispersed from the venue.
The Maina-Curtorim police rushed to the scene following a complaint by Mr Ashok Keni, security manager. The police have registered an offence under Sections 143, 323, 427, 452, 506 (ii) read with 149 of IPC against unknown persons for forming an unlawful assembly, assaulting and threatening the workers. However, no arrests have been made so far. The damage to property too is yet to be ascertained. The police have intensified patrolling around the area, especially at the entrance of the Verna industrial estate and also at Davorlim and Lotoulim.
When contacted, Mr Charles Fernandes, the convenor of SEZ Virodhi Manch, disclosed that around 100 people from Verna, Nagoa, Kerim, Sancoale and Loutolim gathered and drove the workers out from the SEZ site. He lamented that while on one hand the government has declared scrapping of the SEZs it has done nothing to stop the work at SEZ sites.
When asked whether driving away workers from the site did not amount to taking law in their hands, he replied in the negative adding that he did not think so. He further said that none of the agitators were involved in any violent activity and that they stopped the work and walked away peacefully. He said when the government withdrew the stop work notices issued to SEZ promoters, it had promised the citizens of Goa that fresh show cause notices in accordance with the law would be issued to the promoters but nothing has happened till date. On the contrary, the government has allowed the promoters to restart work by its inactions, Mr Fernandes felt.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, during the Zero Hour, on Tuesday said that the government would immediately establish contact with the promoters of the Special Economic Zone, which was proposed to be set up at the Verna industrial estate, and seek information about the work undertaken in the allocated area.
It may be recalled that the government had already scrapped all the proposed SEZs in the state. Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar expressed concern in the House that on Tuesday morning, a group of villagers attacked the workers who were carrying out some work in the land allotted to K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd. Mr Parrikar also demanded that the government should make its stand clear as regards the SEZs in the state.
In his reply, the Chief Minister said that around 60 villagers attacked the workers when they discovered that work had started in the particular area. “The 25 workers involved in some work were driven out by the villagers,” he informed, pointing out that the government has already made it clear to all the promoters of the SEZs proposed in the state, that no police protection would be provided, in case any work is undertaken in the area allotted for the Special Economic Zones. A land admeasuring 7,91,732 sq mt and 2,67,386 sq mt (open space and road area), was allotted to K Raheja Corporation Pvt Ltd, in the Verna industrial estate for setting up a SEZ.