MARGAO, April 28 -- Nearly three-and-a-half years ago, over 5,000 citizens gathered near the railway tracks at Chandor, armed only with unwavering resolve to protect their land and Goa's future in their bid to oppose the expansion of the railway tracks.

However, since then, the human cost of this ongoing fight has become increasingly evident. A selective group of activists who have been at the forefront of this campaign against the double tracking of rails and the transportation of coal have found themselves embroiled in legal battles, facing criminal cases for their peaceful dissent. Incidentally, the present South Goa Congress Lok Sabha candidate, Capt Viriato Fernandes, is one of the ten accused.

The irony is palpable as certain poli...