VALPOI, July 9 -- Valpoi Police on Wednesday detained a group of Melaulim villagers who were about to hold a media briefing opposing the proposed IIT project at Murmune village in Guleli panchayat, Sattari. The group of villagers detained were from Shel Melaulim village of Guleli panchayat.

Four persons were sitting on the dais following norms of social distancing and were about to start the media briefing, when Valpoi Police entered and stopped them. The villagers were threatened that they would be put behind bars if they addressed the media.

Later Valpoi police removed the conference banner and took the villagers - two women and two men - to the police van and whisked them away to the police station before they could commence the pres...