PANJIM: Hundreds of mining dependent people on Tuesday began an indefinite chain sit-in protest at Azad Maidan, Panjim, demanding immediate resumption of legal mining in the State.

The protestors under the banner of Goa Mining People’s Front have threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands are not met immediately. “This is indefinite peaceful protest. We want government to know that the situation is bleak in rural Goa. The people dependent on mining are going through critical phase and might have to starve if mining does not resume immediately,” GMPF leader Christopher Fonseca claimed.