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*Villagers confront police and officials of a mining company. photo by john Fernandes* *http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=12502&cid=1*<http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=12502&cid=1> *Quepem tense, priest among 73 held* ** *HERALD CORRESPONDENT * *QUEPEM, NOV 12 * Tension gripped Colomba-Quepem after 73 villagers, including a priest, were arrested on charges of forming unlawful assembly and trespassing into a mine on Wednesday. The incident took place when villagers of Colomba, Advalpal, Nuvem, as well as members of GAKUVED stopped mining activities at Gulcan-Dongor, after accusing the mining company of destroying their paddy fields, kulagars, water, forest and Kushawati River. At about 10.30 am, around 200 villagers gathered on the road leading to the mine. Armed with banners and chanting slogans, the protestors marched to the mining site. The villagers were stopped by the mine security guards and the agitators then demanded that the mining company stop all activities at the site. Officials temporarily acceded to their demands and all officials, including truck drivers and machine operators, gathered near the office. Villagers had a marathon discussion with the officials and complained about the nuisance and destruction caused by the operation of mining activities. Villagers also brought to the notice of the officials the different complaints filed by them before different authorities for causing destruction to their paddy fields, water, forest and Kushawati River. They requested the officials to permanently shutdown the mine. Later, the agitated villagers marched to the mine and after inspecting it returned to the mine office. At about 12 noon, Quepem PI Santosh Dessai along with his team rushed to the site. When the police arrived, the manager directed the operators to commence operations at the site. Irked with the decision, the agitating villagers sat on the road and stopped the vehicles. Quepem executive magistrate reached the spot at about 1 pm to take stock of the situation. He requested the agitating villagers to disperse, but the villagers did not pay any heed. At around 2.30 pm, DySp Rohidas Patre along with the additional police force from Quepem, Sanguem, Curchorem and armed police force arrived at the spot and detained about 80 villagers, including Fr Mathew D'Cunha from Don Bosco at Sulcorna. The arrested villagers were taken to the Quepem Police Station where 73 of them were book for trespass and forming unlawful assembly. It is learnt that while returning through the forest area, DySP Rohidas Patre's jeep tyres got punctured due to the obstacles raised by the villagers. When contacted, DySP Patre informed that police had arrested 73 villagers, of which 34 are women. To avoid any untoward incident, Quepem Sub-Divisional Magistrate Venancio Furtado, Quepem Executive Magistrate Sudin Nato, Sanguem Magistrate Amol Gaonkar, South Goa SP Allan D'Sa, Quepem DySP Rohidas Patre, Umesh Gaonkar, Curchorem PI Nilesh Rane and a strong police force were stationed at the police station. Speaking to reporters, Dr Audoot Prabhu Dessai stated that they are fighting for their rights. "The mining company is denying us our right to live by destroying our water, paddy fields, Kulagars and rivers. We will not give up our fight," he added. *Cheryl D'Souza, who was recently arrested, stated that she will not give up her fight against the mining company. "Whether wining or defeating does not matter me, but I will fight to protect Goa," she added.* *http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=12518&cid=26*<http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=12518&cid=26> ** __._,_.___ Recent Activity Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goan_Online_Alliance;_ylc=X3oDMTJmOG9vYXBpBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE5MTA5MTE3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MDQxMQRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyMjY1NzM0OTQ-> Yahoo! News Fashion News<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13ol0ch9r/M=493064.12016309.12445701.8674578/D=groups/S=1705060411:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1226580694/L=/B=yqouAELaX9A-/J=1226573494737885/A=3848621/R=0/SIG=12u6o6g3h/*http://news.yahoo.com/i/1597;_ylt=A9FJqa5Gxa5E2jgAYQKVEhkF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2MnU4czRtBHNlYwNzbg--> What's the word on fashion and style? New web site? Drive traffic now.<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13oo4bapb/M=493064.12016308.12445700.8674578/D=groups/S=1705060411:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1226580694/L=/B=y6ouAELaX9A-/J=1226573494737885/A=3848642/R=0/SIG=131eshi2t/*http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/srchv2.php?o=US2004&cmp=Yahoo&ctv=Groups3&s=Y&s2=&s3=&b=50> Get your business on Yahoo! search. Yahoo! Groups Cat Group<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13oc69p7r/M=493064.12016263.12445670.8674578/D=groups/S=1705060411:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1226580694/L=/B=zKouAELaX9A-/J=1226573494737885/A=5522125/R=0/SIG=11kt0eu7c/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/domoreforcats/> Join a group for people who love cats . __,_._,___ -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/