Ponda: Bhoma locals, who had gathered at the Ponda Deputy Collector’s office in connection with the cases registered against them by the police, were upset to see that the Deputy Collector had postponed the hearing on the notice issued to them over the National Highway expansion protest. which was held in December. Last year 20.
The villagers claimed that the government was harassing the 22 Bhomkars for carrying out a peaceful protest. They argued that it is their constitutional right to express dissent but they are pressured to remain silent and the right to protest has been taken away from them.
Rajendra Naik said that on December 20, when officials came to Bhoma to conduct a survey for assessment and demarcation of trees, 150 local people had gathered and asked about the documents, alignment of the NH extension, but instead they were given three Detained in buses and kept in Kollam.
Apart from this, out of the 150 locals detained on January 7 last, only 22 were issued notices to appear before the Deputy Collector on February 2 and deposit a bond and also give an assurance to maintain peace for six months. . Accordingly, he took leave from his office work on Friday and reached the Deputy Collector’s office, Ponda, to present his views on the matters, but the Deputy Collector postponed the hearing till February 5. “We are daily wage earners and cannot take leave frequently to hear cases,” Naik said.
Sanjay Naik said, among the 150 citizens, the sarpanch and panchayat members were also detained, but they were spared and notices were not issued. “This shows that 22 whistleblowers have been harassed and the government is trying to suppress their voice. However, Bhomkar will continue to fight to save the village culture and the temples and houses,” he said.
