NHRC asks Orissa to submit report on suicide of fishermen

Kendrapada, Aug 16 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) has asked the Orissa government to submit the inquiry report on the alleged death and suicide of some fishermen of Mahakalpada block recently.

In its direction to the state government, the NHRC directed the Kendrapada district administration to conduct thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of allegation that the death of a couple of fishermen under coastal Mahakalpada block during November to June was related to ban on fishing in Bhitarkanika to protect olive Ridley Sea turtles during the breeding and nesting period.

Kendrapada district collector Jyoti Prakash Dash has been asked to submit detailed inquiry report by end of August, official sources said.

Last year eight fishermen had committed suicide and seven lost their mental balance at Kharanashi and Ramnagar village as they failed to repay the bank loan they had taken to procure boats to catch fish in the sea.

This year Bidyadhar Ram(38) of Kharnashi village committed suicide by hanging himself as he failed to feed his family.In another incident Gouranga Saha (50) of Kharanashi village committed suicide.

Sources said Rasamaya Mandal, Rahul Vaisya, Hirendra Haldar and Jodan Biswas of Kharnashi and Ramnaga villages also committed suicide after the Forest Department imposed fishing ban.

This apart there are a couple of other instances in the last few years, where fishermen have died in the hospital as they failed to meet their medical expenses.Fishermen have alleged that in the name of protecting endangered species, the State Government has forced the community towards poverty and starvation.

Orissa Traditional Fish Workers' Union President Narayan Haldar said traditional fishermen were not killing the Olive Ridley turtles. It was rather the big trawlers which were responsible for the casualty of sea turtles as they got trapped in the fishing nets resulting in instant death.

UNI XC-DP PL RN1456