100 pro-mining agitators held in Goa
November 22nd, 2011 - 4:04 pm ICT by IANSPanaji, Nov 22 (IANS) Nearly 100 pro-mining demonstrators were arrested after a scuffle with the police as the protesters called a day-long strike against a possible ban on export of iron ore from the state.
The strike called by associations promoting mining and backed by the powerful mining lobby, however, was a damp squib as the protests did not affect normalcy, bar a couple of minor incidents.
A police spokesperson said 100 people were arrested and six policemen received minor injuries during the scuffle near the Panaji municipal market, in close proximity to the venue of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Police even resorted to baton charge to disperse the demonstrators.
Earlier, dozens of iron ore-carrying barges choked the Mandovi river navigation channel as a mark of protest.
The strike marks the high point of a consistent campaign by the mining lobby to create public pressure on the government to desist from a ban on export of iron ore.
The fear of a possible ban on export of iron ore stems from the expose of a mega illegal mining scam, which the opposition has pegged at Rs.25,000 crore.
- Goa mining lobby flexes muscle, blocks river traffic - Oct 12, 2011
- Iron ore barge owners want cap on vessels - Nov 11, 2011
- IFFI kicks off Wednesday, half day in government offices - Nov 23, 2011
- On-road protests to lend new focus to Goa film fest - Nov 22, 2011
- Goa port to tackle dubious iron ore shipments - Oct 17, 2011
- Goa not in iron deposit intensive areas list - Jan 12, 2012
- Goa government caps mining truck permits - Apr 04, 2012
- Iron ore exports from India dipping: China - Nov 17, 2011
- Our report to bare roots of Goa's illegal mining: BJP - Oct 30, 2011
- Goa illegal mining scam: Panaji port to be made accountable - Apr 08, 2012
- Mining association admits to illegal exports from Goa - Nov 21, 2011
- Iron ore export from Goa to dip next fiscal: Exporters body - Oct 04, 2011
- 'Fly by night mining operators creating problems' - Nov 17, 2011
- Goa cancels 450 iron ore trading licenses - Apr 04, 2012
- Goa mining scam: Mines director suspended - Apr 03, 2012
Tags: agitators, barges, close proximity, damp squib, demonstrators, goa, high point, international film festival, iron ore, mandovi river, minor incidents, minor injuries, navigation channel, normalcy, panaji, police spokesperson, policemen, protesters, protests, river navigation