Nilesh Naik

A samadhi (a square stone memorial, typically 6 feet across) was constructed in Naik's name at Bhoot Khamb plateau, Ponda known as the Nilesh Naik Memorial, which included a tombstone bearing the epitaph "Martyr of the anti-Nylon-66 agitation Nilesh Mohan Naik". On 29 January 2021, at Naik's 26th death anniversary, the villagers of Querim and Savoi-Verem along with the members of the Naik clan paid floral tributes at the memorial, they also demanded the Government of Goa to build a hall or Ravindra Bhavan in his name, stating that it'll be essential for neighbouring panchayats such as Verem Vagurbem, Volvoi and Querim, Ponda.

On 23 January 1995, a busload of U.S DuPont officials along three police jeeps were greeted by 70 protesters mainly women and children that were sitting on the road that lead to the factory. When the women refused to let the officials pass, the police present, advised the DuPont officials to return at Panjim wherein they met then Goa Chief minister, Pratapsingh Rane and demanded to take a strict action on the activists. Around 4:30 pm, two busload of Goa Police opened fired at the protesters without any prior warning to disperse, Naik was shot at point blank range while trying to save a woman from police atrocities and died from gunshot wounds to the chest soon after he was admitted to a nearby hospital, while others suffered minor injuries at Bhoot Khamb, Ponda.

On 23 January 1995, Chief minister, Rane ordered a judicial inquiry into the shooting and rewarded ₹25,000 (equivalent to ₹130,000 or US$1,600 in 2020) to Naik's family. The then Goa Legislative Assembly, Leader of Opposition, Surendra Sirsat stated that no mass movement can be suppressed by the police. The managing director of the plant, Virendra (Sam) Singh mourned the death of Naik from the police shooting and was willing to meet up with the locals to clear up the misunderstanding that took place.

On 26 January 1995, India's 46th Republic Day, the activists unfolded the national flag at the Thapar-DuPont factory as a gesture of their opposition after a shutdown was imposed on 24 January 1995 to protest the shootings that took place. The church groups and environmentalists of Goa deemed the Thapar DuPont Nylon 6,6 plant as an "unwanted guest". According to the Goa Police sources, they had first burst tear gas shells to disperse the protesters blockade at the road. But it backfired and engendered the crowd to go on a rampage which resulted in lighting up a police van and three jeeps, assaulted several policemen, kidnapped four of them and stripped some of them. They also stated that the violent mob also plundered a company's office at the nearby Ponda town.

On 27 January 1995, Dr. Desai told the media at Panaji that the protests will now be stepped up to provide a clear message of solidarity to DuPont. The project initially was set to produce nylon filament and industrial tire-cord yarn and promised 600 jobs to the locals. M. K. Jos of the citizens committee stated that the jobs promised was simply not worth for the ₹6 billion project. Jos further stated that the church groups were mobilizing people for a "unified drive" against the American multinational company since the 1980s when the two companies had planned to start their factory in Goa. It is also said that chief minister, Rane and other politicians of the Goa Legislative Assembly had favoured the project as it was expected to become the state's largest industrial infrastructure.

On 14 October 1994, the plant was attacked by the villagers which cost the authorities almost ₹10 million (equivalent to ₹56 million or US$700,000 in 2020). On 17 January 1995, Dr. Dattaram Desai, convener of the Anti-Nylon 6,6 Citizens Action Committee and two other activists were arrested, stripped and assaulted at the police station. On 18 January 1995, The church supported, All Goa Citizens Committee for Social Justice and Action (AGCCSJA) wrote to the then Goa Governor, Gopala Ramanujam expressing their distress over the government's move to subdue the opposition against the project.

A panel of legislators who had made a study on the project, recommended it to be ended due to its multiple effects posing danger to the environment. A village local, Dolu Babu Kolekar stated that after decades residing at the village, the newly built plant had been a blockade to religious sites present. Claude Alvares, an environmentalist said the factory plant is nearby Mangueshi which happens to be Goa's foremost famous hindu temple complex and the Old Goa church complex which is about 15 km (9.3 mi) away, he further added that it's also close to the Opa water works which was Goa's vital source of drinking water during the 1990s.

Around 1980s, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) acquired land at Bhoot Khamb, Ponda for the production of Nylon 6,6. The ₹6 billion (equivalent to ₹120 billion or US$1.5 billion in 2020) project was started by American multinational company, DuPont in collaboration with Indian business conglomerate, Thapar Group. Despite the usage of two hazardous chemicals, hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, the project was declared as "pollution free". Later the locals became aware of the environmental hazards which would pose danger to the water resources and bagayats plantations thereafter beginning a long-drawn agitation that lasted for several years.

Nilesh Mohan Naik (22 May 1970 – 23 January 1995) was an Indian environmental activist and farmworker belonging to the scheduled tribe community from Goa. He was shot to death during the Nylon 6,6 agitation at Keri plateau, Ponda. He is popularly known as Goa's first environmental martyr.

Nilesh Mohan Naik was born on 22 May 1970 to Rekha Gawde at Savoi-Verem, Goa. He belonged to the scheduled tribe community and had three brothers, including Naresh Mohan Naik and Mahesh Naik. On 27 October 2020, Naresh, aged 40, died suffering injuries from a road accident at Savoi-Verem.