Honnavar fishermen attack Malpe boats, loot catch worth Rs 20 lac
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Oct 21: As many as 15 deep sea fishing boats of Malpe port were reportedly stopped and attacked by fishermen in purse seine boats while they were fishing in sea off Honnavar coast. The Honnnavar group attacked the fishermen from Malpe, damaged their boats and also looted their catch worth Rs 20 lac on Sunday October 20, reports claimed.
The Malpe fishermen who were victims of the attack informed the Malpe deep sea fishermen's association about the incident.
It is said that the Honnavar fishermen came in around 30 purse seine boats and surrounded the 15 boats belonging to Malpe fishermen. They also took away catch worth Rs 20 lac and caused a damage of Rs 30 lac to their boats.
As per the information obtained, the purse seine boats also planned to take away a deep sea fishing boat named ‘Varasiddi’. As soon as they took the boat, the other fishermen informed their local counterparts about this. Soon, hundreds of boats started arriving. Sensing danger, the attackers left the boat and fled from the place.
A case has been registered in the Malpe police station.
This is not the first time Honnavar fishermen launched an unprovoked attack on Malpe boats. "If this continues, then there will be fight between two groups. In this regard, the officials concerned should soon take strict action and grant security to our fishermen," said members of Malpe deep sea fishing boat owners' association.
The incident was strongly condemned by Malpe trawl boat fishermen's association, Malpe deep sea fishermen's association and Malpe fish vendors' association.
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