Team Herald
PANJIM: The fishermen’s protest at Panjim captain of ports jetty turned violent on Thursday evening after police resorted to lathi charge as the agitators tried blocking the main Panjim city road and casino operations in the state’s capital.
According to Police and fishermen the agitation demanding ban on LED light for fishing was peaceful for two days.
Despite North Goa Collector’s order banning protests outside Captain of Ports jetty, Police did not clear the agitators for two days but on Thursday evening Police resorted to lathi charge once it turned violent.
Following the lathi charge fishermen alleged that Police has cleared the protest to serve the casino operators, a charge which has been refuted by police, who said it was a collective decision of Deputy Collector and Police.
Police were forced to lathi charge the protesters when a mob tried to block the exit of fisheries director from the office of the fisheries department.
In a scuffle to send director of fisheries out of the office two police constables and one police inspector Uday Parab was assaulted by the mob.
Panjim police have also said that one of the constables was injured after protesters pelted stones.
All three were later admitted to the government hospital at Bambolim.
Superintendent of Police North Goa Karthik Kashyap (holding additional charge), taking the seriousness of the assault, had ordered the lathi charge and asked the police force to clear the entire crowd.
Some of the protesters, including women, were also injured in the lathi charge.
Panjim Police have registered an offence against 23 fishermen under section 188, 143, 141, 323, 322, 353 and 504 r/w 149 of Indian Penal Code.
“We have arrested 23 people out of the crowd for assault and abusing police,” Police Inspector of Panjim Police Sidhant Shirodkar said. The arrested were released on bail late on Thursday night.
After the arrest of fishermen, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Minister for Science and Technology Alina Saldanha visited Panaji Police station in support of the fishermen.
Speaking to reporters, Furtado said that the notification to ban the LED lights is already in process and will be issued shortly.
“We fully support the demand of the fishermen. Now my priority is to release the people arrested by the police,” Furtado said.
Alina Saldanha said that she will speak to the Chief Minister over this issue of fishermen and also the lathi charge on the protesters.
Earlier during the day, a delegation of fishermen held a meeting with Sharmila Monteiro demanding confiscating of the vessels which were using LED lights for fishing. The angry fisher folks, who have identified such vessels with their numbers, gave four hours ultimatum to act failing which they threatened to intensify their agitation.
The Goa Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) condemned the lathi charge on the peaceful demonstration of the fishermen and their subsequent arrest.
GRE stated that the agitation will continue till fishing with LED lights is stopped. GRE has also demanded the resignation of director of fisheries and the minister of fisheries immediately.
Congress party has also strongly condemned the lathi charge claiming it is violence against Goan traditional fishermen by BJP Government.
“Government’s inefficiency in protecting the interest of Goan traditional fishermen has let to this entire chaos and the violent manner in which our Goans have been treated by the BJP Government is deplorable. We strongly stand by the traditional fishermen in this hour,” GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro said.
Fr Eremito Rebello of Goans for Dabolim Only and close friend of the late Matanhy Saldanha strongly condemned the police action on the traditional fishermen in Panjim.
Fr Eremito questioned if this was the way the BJP govt was paying respect to the late Matanhy after making false promises of keeping his legacy alive at his funeral.
