40 tribals held for blocking trucks carrying iron ore in Goa

As many as 40 tribal activists, including 30 women, were today arrested after they stopped trucks carrying iron ore at Cauvrem village in Sanguem taluka, 70 kms away from here.
The tribals have been demanding that they should be allowed to run the mining lease on cooperative basis rather than giving it in the hands of "capitalists".
The village, which has been witnessing sporadic protests against the transport of iron ore from the mining lease adjacent to it, witnessed fresh protests this morning as the group of tribals blocked the roads.
"Total 40 people, including 30 women, were arrested as they continued blocking the road," police spokesman said.

All the protesters were released in the evening.
Cauvrem, a village nestled along the Western Ghats, have been witnessing agitation since 2010.

The protesters, who were released in the evening, alleged that they were beaten up by police.
"We were beaten up by police before being forced into the van. We were protesting peacefully, but police resorted to violence against us," Ramchandra Velip, a village elderly said.
In the recent past, police had arrested eight protesters for disrupting the transport. Ravindra Velip, one of the protesters, who was arrested and sent to judicial custody, was attacked inside the lock-up.
The state government has already initiated an inquiry into the incident headed by senior officer Swapnil Naik.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by Goa state convener, Rajeshree Nagarsekar, sought to know why the villagers were arrested despite "peaceful" protests.
The delegation further submitted a memorandum to Quepem police demanding that the arrested villagers be taken for medical examination as a few of the protesters were injured, including an elderly lady, who had a severe injury on her leg.