Udupi: Fishermen conduct protest in Malpe against the assault in Ratnagiri

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 23 February 2012: The fishermen conducted protest at Malpe port against the assault and looting of fish by the fishermen near Ratnagiri while they were fishing there. They submitted appeal to the government through the Deputy commissioner to take action against those fishermen and provide protection so that such incident does not take place again.
 
The deep water fishing boats Jaladdksha, Jalaraksha, Durgamayi, Shravan, Seafone, Seafarla, Sukanya, Rajdeep, Navamalik, Sannidi, Durgadevi with about 100 fishermen from Karnataka coastal area were fishing on February 19 at Ratnagiri coast. There is law in Goa and Maharastra that outer state fishermen should not fish up to 12 nautical miles from the coast. But the fishermen of Malpe say that they were fishing outside 15 nautical miles.

 

 

 
During their fishing the Marathi fishermen came in boats Al Naveed, Multanian, S. Abbas, Marian Ameen and more tens of boats and attacked the Malpe fishermen with sword, knife and steel rods. With their steel boats have hit the wooden boats of Malpe causing damage and looted fish of lakhs of rupees value and taken in their boats.
 
The seriously injured in the attack Devendra and Hanumanthappa the fishermen of Malpe are taking medical treatment in the District hospital.
 
On Wednesday thousands of fishermen stopped their work and conducted protest and they said that this is the question of our life and death, when we go to deep water fishing (Maharastra – Goa side) protection has to be provided to our lives and boats. Should make provision for open fishing, otherwise we will have to boycott deepwater fishing indefinitely, they said.
 
Speaking on this occasion BJP leader Udayakumar Shetty said that, he will take up this issue with the State Fisheries Minister and the Government and assured that he will take necessary steps to provide the fishermen of the state.
 
Congress leader Pramod Mahajan spoke and said that, through the central leaders talks will be conducted with the Chief Ministers of Goa and Maharasta and will take necessary measures so that there will not be any danger to the fishermen when they do the fishing within their limits.
 
Malpe deep water fishermen  association leaders Shashidhar, Ravi Salyan, Thimmappa Mogera, Rama Ameen, Vishvanatha, Sathish Ameen and others led the protest.