Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) takes serious note about repeated police harassments of people protesting against mining in the State of Goa. Latest instance is of Motesh Antao of Colamb, Sanguem where in he was called at Quepem Police Station on 25th September 2009 to collect written replies to his application under Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI).
However instead of furnishing him with the relevant information in polite manner he was threatened for filing RTI application and arrested under some criminal case registered against group of Colamb villagers for blocking mining transportation of the Fomento mining company – operating Hiralal Khodidas mining lease against the overwhelming protests from the local villagers - in Colamb on November 28, 2008 in a land belonging to Forest department.
GOAMAP requests the Goa Police authorities at Quepem Police Station, Quepem to issue written apology to Motesh Antao for threatening him for filing an RTI application – thereby causing grave injury to the practice of democracy and citizens fundamental right to freedom of Speech and Expression guaranteed under Constitution of India - with copies to all the print and electronic media in Goa by the mid-night of September 27, 2009.
In case Goa Police fails to tender apology then GOAMAP shall be constrained to initiate appropriate constitutional recourse in a befitting manner.
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