On January 13, 2024 in Mayem village, Bicholim, Goa, villagers staged protests against the transportation of ore through internal village roads by trucks, deserve your attention. Subsequently, police personnel, under the guidance of deputy collector Rhoan Kaskar, detained five protestors in response to the agitation. The village, home to three schools, has suffered road damage and pollution due to transportation activities, prompting villagers to petition the Bombay High Court bench at Goa through a public interest litigation. In its ruling on January 17, 2024, the High Court highlighted concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the roles of authorities responsible for overseeing the transportation of ore through villages, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring and adherence to environmental regulations.

The detention of protestors, viewed by many as an act of reprisal against their activism, underscores the broader importance of protecting fundamental rights, including the right to peaceful protest. Given the gravity of the situation and potential violations of human rights standards, HRDA made an appeal to NHRC to invoke Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 and initiate an independent inquiry through the National Human Rights Commission's investigation wing as its part of suo moto action.