Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MB)
with inputs from special correspondent in Goa
Udupi / Panaji, Oct 12: Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has evaluated loss to the tune of Rs 60 lac for their instruments in an attack on their scientists off Udupi coast in Karnataka on October 08.
A NIO team from Vishakhapatnam-based regional centre was attacked mid-sea by unknown people who had come in four canoes. They flew after snatching instruments from scientists and throwing them in water.
File pics of sea at Yermal
First time after the attack, NIO has issued a statement on its website which estimates the loss at Rs 60 lac.
"The instruments which were thrown consists of a seismic profiler, an echo sounder, a side scan sonar, a navigation equipment and other miscellaneous items," NIO website reads.
NIO confirmed that the research team on board comprised of YSN Raju, MK Prem kumar, Jawahar Kumar and A Suri babu -- all based in Vishakhapatnam.
Detailing the incident, NIO website mentions that about 30-40 persons entered the hired boat, manhandled the staff and the boat crew, and threw overboard the scientific instrument.
The team was conducting an oceanographic study in the area between Suratkal and Udupi, NIO stated.
An FIR was filed next day, October 09 at Panambur Police Station, Mangalore under whose jurisdiction the area of attack falls. "The team has now returned to Vishakhapatnam," the website states.
NIO information
A team of NIO's staff from its Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam on field work in the sea off the coast of Udupi were attacked on 8 October 2007 at around 11.45 hrs.
The staff - Y S N Raju, M K Prem Kumar, Jawahar Kumar and A Suri babu - along with the boat driver and two deck hands were on a fishing boat 'M Annani' hired from the Mangalore fishing harbour. The boat had sailed earlier that day to conduct an oceanographic study in the area between Suratkal and Udupi (latitude 13°10' and longitude 74° 45'). They reached the study area at around 09:30 hrs and initiated their work.
At about 11:45 hrs, when the team reached off Padubidri, a group of unidentified persons, numbering about 100, came in 4 dinghy boats and surrounded the boat hired by NIO. About 30-40 persons entered the hired boat, manhandled the staff and the boat crew, and threw overboard the scientific equipment that was being used by NIO staff.
The intruders then forced the NIO team to leave the area. The cost of scientific equipment thrown overboard is estimated around Rs 55-60 lac. The NIO team had to return to Mangalore to report and discuss the matter with the other members of the team from NIO.
An FIR was filed on October 9, 2007 at 19:00 hrs at the Panambur police station, Mangalore under whose jurisdiction the area of attack falls. The team has now returned to Visakhapatnam.
NIO has expressed its deep gratitude to all those who contacted them and helped in getting the team safely back, in particular the New Mangalore Port authorities.
Our Udupi bureau adds:
While daijiworld was the first to flash the news on early Wednesday morning, the report was soon after picked by national news agencies.
There are conflicting reports about the information given to the police. First the Udupi SP's office was informed about the incident. The complaint was directed to the Padubidri station on Wednesday. The NIO sources say the complaint was filed at the Panambur station.
Enquiries around Yermal and Padubidri have revealed that it was because of a mistaken identity to assault took place. Some of the locals, apprehensive about the Nagarjuna Power Company's survey, had stormed the boat engaged by NIO for its survey.
On two earlier occasions, Nagarjuna Company had surveyed the area and on both occasions they had been shooed away by the local anti-Nagarjuna protesters.
As for the value of the equipment, NIO has confirmed that the estimated loss is about Rs 60 lac and not Rs 4 crore as reported by sources earlier.
Read earlier updates: