Police use force to disperse fishermen

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 2. The police today used force to disperse a group of fishermen who tried to storm the Secretariat as part of the ongoing agitation organised by the Swathantra Matsya Tozhilali Federation here demanding ban on monsoon trawling and the Government move to import fish.

According to the Federation president, Mr. T. Peter, several women agitators, who were protesting in front of the Secretariat as part of the indefinite strike, suffered injuries following the police lathi-charge. He said the police resorted to lathi-charge though the women were staging the dharna in a peaceful manner.

The Cantonment Police, however, denied the use of force against the agitators. They said some of the fishermen and women who were staging a dharna tried to enter the Secretariat through the gate near the YMCA building at around 11-30 a.m. These persons were arrested and later released.

The Federation has decided to organise State-wide protest marches against the alleged police lathi-charge on the fishermen. The Opposition leader, Mr. A. K. Antony and the KPCC(I) general secretary, Mr. M. M. Hassan, visited the agitators this evening. A torchlight procession was taken out in the evening to protest against the alleged police lathi-charge.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Matsyathozhilali Federation convened here urged the Chief Minister to take steps to order for an inquiry into the lathi charge. The Federation also decided to intensify its stir.

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Section  : Southern States
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