Mangalore: Protest, clashes at Old Port demanding permanent vessel surveyor

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Oct 22: The members of Old Mangalore Port Users' Assocation along with other similar associations held a protest in front of the Bunder office of the the Old Port here on Tuesday October 22, demanding that the post of surveryor of vessel be made a permanent one.

The protestors said that since surveyors of vessel were hired on temporary basis, it creates problems to the vessel owners as the people appointed to the post come and go.

As the protest gained momentum, Mangalore South MLA J R Lobo arrived at the spot and accepted a memorandum submitted by the protestors.

He then held a meeting with the officials and directed them to solve the issue on priority.

He also assured that some of the other demands placed by the protestors will also be met.

Meanwhile, even as J R Lobo was discussing the issue, chaos erupted at the port when a group of people tried to stop the Lakshadweep vessel from moving out of the harbour. Another group intervened, and soon clashes broke out between the two groups. It is said that except for Lakshadweep vessel, all other vessels and boats had come to a halt in support of the strike, and hence the group forcibly stopped the Lakshadweep vessel.

As the situation threatened to go out of hand, police intervened and calmed down the two groups.

Rafique, Sharan, Harish, Mohammed Sharif, Abdul Latif, Jeevan, Harish Kava, Suresh Nayak, B M Faizal and others were part of the protest.