Goa:
A charred body, possibly of a tribal activist, was discovered late Wednesday night after a massive stir by tribals here turned violent earlier in the day.
Police said Thursday that the body, which was charred beyond recognition, was found in Balli village, about 45 km from Panaji, inside the store of a co-operative society, hours after the daylong agitation ended.
"The body was found inside the store. It is burnt beyond recognition therefore we have not been able to identify him. But he could be one of the tribals who were agitating. We have imposed section 144 CrPC (Criminal Procedure code) at Balli to avoid any incident today," Superintendent of police (South), Tony Fernandes said on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses said a few tribal activists had rushed into the store operated by local tribal leader Prakash Velip after they were assaulted by locals, who were enraged after they had begun to stone shops in the market.
"A few of them rushed into the store for protection. When the Balli residents saw this, they set fire to the store itself. The fire department personnel managed to save most of those inside. One must have been left behind," an onlooker said.
The 10,000 strong agitators led by the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) blockaded Konkan Railway tracks and National Highway 17, demanding prompt implementation of the Tribal Forest Act. The representatives also sought reservation for tribals in government jobs, and the setting up of a Scheduled Tribes commission in Goa.
The agitation ended Wednesday afternoon after state Minister for Tribal Affairs Filipe Neri Rodrigues met the agitators and assured them that their demands "would be treated sympathetically" by the Goa government.