Arrosim: Tense situation prevailed at railway tracks near St Lawrence Church last night as the anti coal protestors and the police almost came to blows.
For nearly three hours, from 11 pm to 2.30 am, the protestors sat on the railway tracks shouting slogans against xoal handling and transportation feom MPT.
Police Inspwctor Sherif Jacques requestwd the protestors to move out of tracks and protest on the adjoining area. However, the agitataors, led by Goyant Kolso Naka (GKN).
The protest was attended by hundreds of people including youyh and small children and activists Abhijit Prabhudesai, Walter Lobo, Gina Pereira, AAPs Rahul Mhanbrey, Surel Tilve amongst others.
The Mormugao Mamlatdar and the Dy Superintendent of police further urged the people to move but tgier wfforts were in vain.
Meanwhile, the police presence also continued to buld up with at lwast 200 Goa police and Railway personnel present on the tracks.
Mamlatdar said they had instruxtioj to clear the tracks as soon as possible from the South Goa Collector. Which meant they were ready for lathibcharge.
Sources saidbpolice had also come with tear gas tondisperse the crowd.
Eye witneases said that AAPs Surel Tilve was also assaulyed by police but ciuld not be confirmed.
The protestors were in mood to relent as they even refused to listen to call from Abhijit Prabhudesai to move out of tracks.
Shockingly, Prabhudesai disappeared from the scene thereafter.
It was only after police forciblybtook away some leaders that the agitators they agrees to move out.