Media Release

Udupi, Mar 21: Former Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat has strongly condemned the arrest of innocent individuals under the Atrocities Act in connection with the March 18 fish theft case in Malpe. He emphasized that the incident was not premeditated and called for a peaceful resolution through mediation by the Malpe Fishermen’s Association to ensure the safety of fishermen.

The incident occurred in the Malpe port area, where a woman was allegedly assaulted after being accused of stealing fish. Addressing the issue, Bhat stated, “Fishermen wake up at 3 AM, risk their lives in the sea, and when their hard-earned catch is stolen, such reactions of public outrage are natural.” He urged the police to refrain from filing cases against innocent people and instead facilitate discussions between both parties for an amicable resolution.

While condemning the act of tying the woman to a tree and beating her, Bhat asserted that exaggerating the incident was unwarranted. “Fish theft has been a persistent issue in Malpe, and when thieves are caught, public outrage is expected. In any community, thieves are not treated with respect,” he said. He further revealed that after the incident, both parties had been summoned to the police station, where a settlement was reached in the presence of fishing community leaders. A written acknowledgment of fault was obtained from both sides, and the matter was resolved amicably.

However, Bhat criticized the police for reopening the case after videos of the incident went viral, leading to the arrest of innocent fishermen under the Atrocities Act. He argued that those who were not involved had been wrongfully detained, causing insecurity among the fishing community. He stressed that the incident was a result of momentary anger rather than a deliberate act.

Bhat highlighted the ongoing struggles of fishermen due to prolonged fishing bans and financial losses. He also pointed out the frequent thefts at Malpe port, including fish, boat equipment, batteries, GPS devices, wireless sets, fish finders, and fishing nets. He urged the police and fisheries department to take strict action against such thefts and called on the government and the Udupi district superintendent of police to resolve the case amicably while ensuring the safety and well-being of fishermen.