Malpe fishermen protest against alleged assault by Ratnagiri fishermen

Malpe fishermen protest against alleged assault by Ratnagiri fishermen

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 22, 2012: The Deep Sea Boat Fishermen’s Association held a protest on Feb 22 Wednesday against the alleged assault on the fishermen of Malpe along the coast of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. 

The protestors said that the purse seine boats operating along the coast of Ratnagiri have been targeting deep sea fishing boats in Malpe for the past one week. They alleged that the fishermen of Ratnagiri attacked their boats and stole fish, equipment, GPS, wireless equipment, and other fishing-related equipment from the fishermen of Karnataka.

Urging the state government to intervene, the protestors submitted a memorandum to the district commissioner. They demanded protection from the aggressive and illegal behavior of the Ratnagiri fishermen. 

Listing out the attackers’ boats as Al Naveed, S. Abbas, Multanian, Marian Amir, and others, the protestors said that they attacked Malpe’s deep-sea fishing vessels Jala Deeksha, Sukanya, Jala Raksha, Durga Devi, and other vehicles and also assaulted the crew, besides stealing valuable equipment such as fish finders, wireless apparatus, and GPS. 

Stating that the fishermen of Malpe have suffered serious financial loss, the protestors urged authorities concerned to make conditions favorable for the fishermen to do their work in peace.
Condemning the illegal activities on the part of Ratnagiri fishermen, Uday Kumar Shetty, the president of the BJP district unit, said that Malpe fishermen were fishing within their rights and had done nothing wrong. He urged the fishing community to protest in unity and demanded strict action against the assaulters. He also promised that he will discuss the issue with the chief minister. 

Speaking on the occasion, Pramod Madhwaraj, the businessman, said that he will take up the issue with Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, demanding a solution in writing. Stating that he will lead a delegation to Mr. Fernandes, he said that Mr. Fernandes had come to the rescue of the fishermen in the past and will surely do so once again. 

Timmappa Bhatkal, Ravi Salian, Sathish Amin Padukere, Panduranga Malpe, the municipal councilor, and many representatives of the Deep Sea Boat Fishermen’s Association participated in this protest.