Goa Foundation director Claud Alvares was among two activists booked today by police on charge of damaging public property, a day after they locked state Mines and Geology department for being the "biggest source of illegalities in the mining sector" in a symbolic protest.
It is noted that Goa Foundation's petition had led the Supreme Court to quash renewal of 88 mining leases in the coastal state in February this year, which brought the mining industry to a halt since mid-March.
Another activists booked along with Alvares is identified as Rahul Basu.
A complaint was lodged against Alvares and Basu by an official of the State Mines and Geology department.
Alvares had yesterday led a group of people that locked the main door of the department.
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The activists had later handed over the key to the Panaji police.
Police Inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar said the FIR was registered under appropriate sections of the IPC for causing damage to public property, wrongful confinement, and obstruction to public servant while discharging his/her duty.
"We are symbolically locking the mines department because this is the biggest source of illegalities. We are not interested in harming anybody. We want to pass on a political message to everybody that this department has let Goans down," Alvares had told reporters yesterday.
He alleged that the department had helped mining firms in illegally taking away the iron ore despite the supreme court order preventing to do so.
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