Threats and harassment to Shaila D'mello, President, All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union by two men claiming to be from Police department on Chorao Island illegal sand mining issue personally and from their mobile number 9325085806

13 January 2025

To,

Chief Minister,

Government of Goa

Porvorim, Goa 

To,

Chief Secretary,

Government of Goa, 

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Secretary (Home)

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Director-General of Police,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Superitendent of Police 

(North Goa)

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Collector,

North Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Mines and Geology,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Threats and harassment to Shaila D'mello, President, All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union by two men claiming to be from Police department on Chorao Island illegal sand mining issue personally and from their mobile number 9325085806

Sir,

We draw your urgent attention to threats and harassment to Shaila D'mello, President, All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union by two men claiming to be officials from Police department since beginning of January 2025.

Calls began to Shaila D'mello on her mobile number from another mobile number 9325085806 on January 02, 2025. The first call was made at 10.34 am and lasted 1.46 seconds asking her to come and meet the caller at unknown Police Station without serving any call letter. Shaila D'mello refused to abide.

On January 10, 2025 two people came to the residence of Shaila D'mello unannounced at 3.30 pm. Shaila was on the road outside her house in Cacra, Tiswadi. The two men then requested time with her. She agreed to speak to them.

The two men were in plain clothes with no name plate or buckle number indicating that they are Policemen. They also did not show their identity card to indicate that they are working for Goa Police. They simply claimed that they are from Goa Police.

The two men asked Shaila D'mello to accompany them to local temple. She refused to go with them. They entered her house and sat to speak.

Their main purpose as shared by the two men was about affairs of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union. They objected three things:

1. Letters going out from the Union to various government departments like Fisheries, Police, etc.

2. Media reports about the Union activities including press statements.

3. All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union complaints objecting Sand mining in Mandovi river specially Chorao Island and Shaila will be harmed for signing as the President of the Union.

They then got Shaila's signature on blank paper under duress and threats and she is unaware of the contents of what they might have written on the same. 

After doing this the two men left the house. After some time one of them from above cited number called up Shaila and used abusive language against her. These last two calls came, first at 4.22 pm and lasted for 26 seconds. The second call was at 5.56 pm and lasted for 1.14 seconds.

Now it can very clearly be seen as an attempt destroy our Union activities in defence of Small Scale fishing communities all over Goa. Union has Jurisdiction all over Goa and cannot be singled out for commenting against illegal sand mining in Chorao. It is well known fact that illegal sand mining is going in Mandovi river daily at night from 12.30 am to 6.00 am and off loaded from cannoes in Chorao, Vanxim, Naroa, St. Estevam and Old Goa. Illegal Sand mining is well known to Police and the way it is ignored by Police itself speaks volumes on the nexus of the underworld. Chorao Island has become epicenter of illegal sand mining trade with fear and intimidation as favored tactics to frighten people of Chorao to stay silent on illegal sand mining. Recently one Islander was even threatened death by stoning. 

Fishermen from Diwar Island has been constantly complaining about havoc sand mining has caused to fishing activities in Mandovi. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union is mandated to defend fishers as well as protect rivers to be fishing worthy and for this reason we will continue to speak out on issues across State of Goa and it is our Fundamental Right under Article 19 of the Constitution of India. Right to form Union as well as Right to share information in public too is a Fundamental Right under Artucle 19 of the Constitution of India.

In this context you are therefore advised the following:

1. Trace the identity of the two men who are claiming to be from Police department and obstructing smooth flow of Union activities through threats to our President Shaila D'mello and initiate legal action for intimidation and threats to cause harm under BNS as well as SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. We have identified one as Dilip Deulkar and have his photograph verified by Shaila D'mello.

2. Initiate action against all the illegal sand mining in Mandovi river as it is continually disrupting fishing activities and marine ecology.

3. Launch night Petroling in Mandovi river to trace illegal sand mining. Raid stockyards of illegal sand mined, stored and transported from Chorao Island, Old Goa Neary Ferry Jetty, Naroa near Ferry Jetty and on Vanxim Island.

4. Launch special task force to dismantle infiltration of sand mining mafia in Goa Police.

Kind submit Action Taken Report (ATR) to the below on above points.

Urgent meeting of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union was held on 12 January 2025 at the request of President and it was decided at the to pursue this matter fearlessly to defend fishing spaces and fishing based livelihoods. 

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello 

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary