Andhra fishermen threaten self-immolation

VISAKHAPATNAM - Tension prevailed at Gangavaram port near Visakhapatnam Wednesday after fishermen affected by the newly-developed all-weather port staged a protest and clashed with the police alleging the government’s failure to rehabilitate them.

Alleging that the port authorities had not provided them jobs under the rehabilitation package, at least 15 protesters poured kerosene over themselves and threatened self-immolation when police tried to prevent them.

The police resorted to mild baton charge to disperse the protesters.

They also said they were assured 300 jobs in the Gangavaram Port as per the tripartite agreement of the Government whereas only 208 were absorbed leaving the rest 92 in the lurch.

The government had also promised to build an alternate fishing jetty at Yarada, but could not fulfil it as the Gangavaram Port authorities built a long parapet wall around Gangavaram village, which came in the way of their free access to the sea for fishing.

“Our crusade is against the assurance of the government which promised us an exclusive jetty for fishing trawlers but nothing has been honoured? Hence we are protesting at these broken promises,” said K Nookaraju, a fisherman. (ANI)