Tribals' agitation in Goa turns violent, traffic blocked

PANAJI: The agitation by tribals in Goa for various demands including implementation of reservations in the government jobs turned violent today, as mobs damaged police vehicles, railway signals and railway tracks at Balli village, 60 km south of Panaji.

Around 10,000 people, under the banner of United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA), have blocked the National Highway and railway tracks since morning, seeking that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat meet their demands immediately.

The protest, peaceful initially, became violent when authorities ordered people to clear the road.

Two buses carrying policemen from India Reserve Battalion (IRB) were stoned at Balli, police said. A police jeep heading for the site too was damaged.

Protesters smashed up railway traffic signal near Balli Railway station and also damaged the tracks, police added.

The tribals have laid siege at three important locations - Balli, Karmal Ghat and Khola -- paralysing traffic on National Highway 17 which connects Goa to Karnataka.

Konkan Railway Corporation Limited ( KRCL) officials said that the train traffic too has been affected severely.

Rajadhani Express, on its way to Delhi, was stopped at Madgao railway station while several trains were stopped at other points.

"State government is playing with the sentiments of the tribals. We protested twice in past and both the times government dished out assurances which were never fulfilled. Now we will clear the roads only when government fulfils its promises," UTAA president, Prakash Velip, told PTI.