Goa tribals agitation: Factory set ablaze; two killed

Panaji, May 26: Two persons were killed after a factory was set on fire by irate locals at Balli village in Goa during a tribals agitation for long-pending demands including reservation in government jobs, police said today (May 26).

The bodies of the youths, charred beyond recognition, were recovered late last night from the factory, 50 kms from here, they said. Superintendent of Police Tony Fernandes told PTI that the tribal-duo was hiding in the factory when it was set ablaze.

"Fire and emergency services had doused the fire but they did not know about the people inside," he said.

Around 10,000 tribals had blocked National Highway-17 and also train traffic yesterday pressing for their various demands including implementation of Tribals Act and reservation in government schemes. The agitation had turned violent when police resorted to mild cane charge on the crowd.

The protesters went berserk and stoned several police vehicles, forest department check post, smashed railway signal and damaged railway tracks. In the melee, the crowd also damaged several shops in Balli village, which provoked the locals.

They allegedly bashed up tribals and set on fire the factory owned by a tribal leader following which police launched search operation and traced the two bodies.

District administration has clamped section 144 in the area. Collector G P Naik said the situation is under control.

PTI