Goa: Angry locals detain journalists

The journalists were on a field visit as a part of three- day workshop organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh.

"A group of more than 80 locals stopped us and held us for almost two hours when we were heading to a dam in Curpem," said journalist Raju Nayak, one of the organisers.

Police were informed and the journalists eventually left after policemen arrived at the spot, Nayak added.

Locals were apparently angry as mines in the entire state are not currently operating.

Goa is the largest exporter of iron ore in India. However, illegal excavations and environmental degradation have become a matter of concern in the last few years.

Following Justice M B Shah commission's report, the Goa government has suspended all mining operations. The Union Environment Ministry has also suspended environment clearances of all the mines in the state.