Cowardly Attack On Nilesh Gaonkar The attack on anti-mining activist Nilesh Gaonkar is a cowardly act and a blow to the democratic norms of the Country. I do strongly condemn this atrocious act of inhumanity against a law abiding citizen who has put his life on line for the welfare of the people of Cavrem, who have been subjected and forced to live in harmful and detrimental conditions perpetuated by the mining fraternity.
This is not the first time that the mining barons have used anti social elements to try to subdue and silence the opposition in to submission, all credit must be given to this young lad who single handedly led the people of Cavrem and forced the government to shut down the illegal mine in operation and is still fighting against the ills of mining in and around his village and there is absolutely no doubt as to who is behind this attack on young Nilesh Gaonkar. The illegal mine has been shut but why is the culprit who operated the mine not taken to task ? Not so long ago there was another incident when an eighty year old lady and her grand daughter were assaulted by the police for fighting against the mining menace. Seby another anti-mining activist was labeled a naxalite by our elected members. Goans living in hinterland have been subjected to inhuman living conditions and atrocities and more often than not money and muscle power has been used to unleash terror through both goons and the police against those opposing the mining fraternity and now young Nilesh Goankar has become the latest casualty. This barbarous act has in no way deemed the spirit of Nilesh Gaonkar and the other activists on the contrary they have claimed that this attack has given them the additional impetus and have courageously vowed to carry on their fight for justice for the mines affected people of Goa. Today’s news papers carries a headline “Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has condemned attack on tribal leader Nilesh Gaonkar”. It exposes the duplicitous mining fraternity as they try to pull wool over the people’s eyes to misguide them to hide their own inhuman and heartless act. The IGP of Goa has promised to apprehend the culprits, but like all other promises will we ever get to know who was behind this attack on Nilesh Gaonkar ? History has never been in favour of the innocent victims, victimized by the rich, powerful and the affluent and it seem in all probability that history is going to repeat itself. The law and order situation is getting worse by the day in Goa and the Aam Aadmi is feeling more and more insecure with each passing day and any assertions by the IGP and our politicians will not change this fact and if things do not change for the better I wont be surprised if some Goans start taking the law into their own hands and when it happens the law and order machinery will be solely responsible for any such unhealthy situation. Freddy Agnelo Fernandes