Fishermen clash with police, assault officials

Visakhapatnam, Mar 25 (UNI) Two officilas including a sub-inspector weree seriously injured in a clash following lathicharge on agitated fishermen.

Police said the incident occurred when revenue officials led by the Special Officer of Gangavaram Port, which is being developed by a Dubai-based NRI consortium, went to the village with police personnel to shift 120 fishing boats as per the decision by the district administration.

The officials tried to convince the fishermen that an agreement had been reached following which they will be shifted to the nearby Yarada for continuing their fishing activities.

However, the fishermen demanded compensation.

Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse about 2000 agitating fishermen. Enraged villagers assaulted Special Officer Mohan Reddy, Mandal Revenue Officer Prabhakar Rao, Sub-inspector Balasurya Rao and some policemen.

Deputy Commissioner of Police V Ravinder said cases had been registered against some villagers for assaulting officials but no arrests have been made so far.

The fishermen were demanding the construction of a 15-feet road from the village to Yarada beach Jetty, payment of compensation at market prices for boats, nets and other inputs to all the 3600 families that would be affected, apart from payment of Rs three lakh towards loss of livelihood.

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