Malpe Fishermen Stage Massive Protest, Demand Withdrawal of Atrocity Case Stemming from Viral Video
Udupi: Thousands of fishermen, united under the banner of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, converged at the Malpe harbor today to stage a massive protest, demanding the immediate withdrawal of an Atrocity case filed against four women fishermen and one man. The contentious case, which has inflamed tensions within the fishing community, arose from a viral video circulating on social media, leading to the arrest of the individuals on charges of fish theft.
The protest, characterized by impassioned speeches and a palpable sense of injustice, saw Dayanand Suvarna, President of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, take center stage. Mr. Suvarna vehemently asserted the unity and harmony prevalent within the Malpe harbor, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that transcends caste and religious differences amongst the thousands who rely on fishing for their livelihood. He issued a stern warning, declaring that a significantly larger-scale protest would be organized if the charges against the arrested individuals were not dropped immediately.
Mr. Suvarna expressed deep concern that external forces, driven by malicious intent, were attempting to sow discord within the harbor by exploiting the viral video. He made it clear that the Fishermen’s Association and the fishermen themselves do not condone any unlawful activities, while simultaneously lamenting that the media coverage had been one-sided, failing to adequately portray the positive contributions and unwavering commitment of the Fishermen’s Association.
He further highlighted the myriad challenges faced by the fishing industry in recent years, resulting in significant financial losses for boat owners. Mr. Suvarna drew attention to the repeated instances of theft targeting fishing equipment, including boat pans, batteries, GPS devices, wireless units, fish finders, nets, and fish, for which numerous complaints have been filed with the police, allegedly without yielding any tangible results in terms of justice or recovery of stolen goods.
Adding fuel to the fire, Mr. Suvarna criticized the authorities for their alleged inaction regarding the implementation of existing regulations mandating the installation of CCTV cameras and the presence of 30 security personnel at the harbor, designed to deter criminal activity. He argued that the current situation had severely undermined the camaraderie within the harbor, unfairly painting the fishermen as criminals.
Former Legislator Raghupathi Bhat Criticizes Police Actions
Adding his voice to the growing chorus of dissent, former Legislator Raghupathi Bhat launched a scathing critique of the police department’s handling of the situation. He categorically denied the occurrence of any caste-based defamation during the incident, questioning the legal basis for filing a case solely on such grounds. Mr. Bhat insisted that the police officers involved must strictly adhere to the law and that the Superintendent of Police (SP) must act by established legal standards. He emphasized that the arrested women had been wrongfully apprehended after the initial dispute had been resolved through arbitration at the Malpe harbor, calling for an immediate withdrawal of the caste-based case against the fishermen.
Former Minister Pramod Madhwaraj Lambasts Incompetent Officials
Echoing the sentiments of injustice, former Minister Pramod Madhwaraj directed sharp criticism towards officials whom he accused of being out of touch with the realities of the fishing industry in Udupi district. He questioned their competence, particularly those based in Bengaluru, alleging that they were providing misguided statements.
Mr. Madhwaraj drew a parallel to a recent incident in Mysore, where 300 individuals allegedly set fire to a police station, yet did not provoke the same level of reaction from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He questioned the appropriateness of involving religion by asking if the SP would hold a prayer if burglars invaded their home and asserted that as long as the current SP remained in place, the government would be perceived as being against the fishermen.
Mr. Madhwaraj further claimed that families of Dalit leaders who opposed the handling of the incident had been rescued from the Malpe harbor. He went on to assert that the current SP was incapable of effectively managing drug control within the district, labeling them as unfit for the Udupi posting and urging the government to transfer them immediately.
Memorandum Submitted to Deputy Commissioner
Amidst the escalating tensions, Abid Gadyal, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by Additional SP Siddalingappa and Police Inspector Hegde, representing the district administration, arrived at the protest site. They received a memorandum outlining the fishermen’s grievances, which was presented by legislator Yash Pal Suvarna and Dayanand Suvarna, President of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association. The memorandum reiterated the demands for the immediate withdrawal of the defamation case and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the viral video and the subsequent arrests. The district administration officials assured the protesting fishermen that their concerns would be conveyed to the relevant authorities and that the matter would be given due consideration.
The future remains uncertain as the fishing community awaits a response from the authorities. The Malpe Fishermen’s Association has vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met, raising the specter of further disruptions and escalating tensions within the region. The situation remains fluid and requires careful monitoring by the authorities to prevent further escalation and to ensure a fair and just resolution for all parties involved.
