Angry fishermen force MLA to retreat

Visakhapatnam, Apr 7 (UNI) Angry villagers of Gangavaram forced Pendurthy MLA Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy, under whose constituency the trouble-torn fishing village falls, to beat a hasty retreat after he visited the village to console the agitating fishermen today.

There had been a strong anti-state government mood in the village as the fisherfolk believe it let them down in not announcing a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package and in meeting their other demands.

The legislator visited the village under the advice of senior party leaders.

He reached the village this morning and called on representatives of Gangavaram Fisherfolk Aikya Vedika who were on indefinite fast.

He was well received by the leaders and there was discussion for few moments on how to solve the deadlock. The MLA then called on the widow of C Nookaraju who was killed in the police action on March 27. The sobbing family members of Nookaraju narrated the incidents to which MLA expressed his sympathy.

''Everything went on smoothly and the MLA did not face any problem anywhere in the village,'' one of his followers said.

However, trouble broke out when the Congress leader went to Jalaripallepalem, an adjacent hamlet, to console the fisherfolk injured in the violent incidents.

CPI (M) activists and young fishermen allegedly raised slogans and rebuked him for not visiting the village soon after the incidents. At this juncture, the MLA's followers in the village asked the youth to stop raising slogans. This led heated arguments which culminated in exchange of blows.

Sensing that the situation was going out of hand, the MLA made a silent exit in his car.

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