Daijiworld Media Network - Chimbel

Chimbel, Jan 15: Villagers in Chimbel held a daylong peaceful protest at the Merces junction, demanding the cancellation of the proposed Unity Mall project. The demonstration persisted throughout the day after authorities barred the protesters from marching towards the State Assembly complex.

A strong police presence was deployed to prevent any movement beyond the junction, but the villagers remained steadfast, reiterating their call for the project to be scrapped. Several opposition leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition, visited the site and voiced support, providing political backing to the movement.

In a symbolic act of defiance, some villagers voluntarily sat inside a police vehicle, stating that if they were not allowed to march to the Assembly, they were willing to be detained.

North Goa collector Ankit Yadav later met the protesters and urged them to submit a memorandum, promising to forward it to the government. The villagers, however, refused, saying they had already met the chief minister and clearly conveyed their demands.

The demonstrators emphasized that they would continue their opposition to the Unity Mall project until the government formally agrees to withdraw it.