Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today announced magisterial inquiry into the alleged lathicharge on protesting fishermen by the police two days ago, a fishermen's organisation stated here.
A delegation of fishermen, under the banner of Goencho Ramponkarancho Ekvott (Unity of Goan Fishermen), met Parsekar today and put forth various demands including a magisterial inquiry into Thursday's alleged lathicharge.
The fishermen claimed that the superintendent of police (North) Karthik Kashyap ordered the lathicharge without any provocation.
"The Chief Minister has assured us that he would order magisterial inquiry into the entire incident and Kashyap's role in it," said Agnelo Fernandes, GRE president, afterwards.
While Parsekar had already received a preliminary report about the incident from the police, the magisterial inquiry would be completed within a month, Fernandes told PTI.
"It was not lathicharge. Since protestors were blocking the road for long time, police tried to disperse them," Parsekar had said yesterday reacting to media reports that Superintendent of Police (North) Karthik Kashyap ordered lathicharge without mandatory approval of Sub Divisional Magistrate.
Hundreds of fishermen blocked the river Mandovi here and Sal channel near Betul on Wednesday and Thursday, demanding ban on use of LED lights by fishing trawlers and 'bull-trawling'.
Chief Minister told the delegation that marine police and State Fisheries Department will crack down on the LED lights and high-speed trawlers with China-made engines, according to Fernandes.
"If there is any violation of rules in the deep sea, Coast Guard has been instructed to take action," Fernandes said, adding that the fishermen would not withdraw their ongoing strike till government acted on these promises.
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Haldar said six fishermen were rescued by Bangladesh
coastal police and handed over to the Association last night near Kendo near the maritime boundary with Bangladesh.
Two of the four missing trawlers have been identified as 'FB(fishing boat) Mahagouri' and 'FB Pallabi'.
Three of the fishermen whose bodies were found today had gone out to the sea in 'FB Mahagouri'. Another body was identified as that of the 'sareng' (the main fisherman) Haripada Das of 'FB Pallabi'. All the four hailed from Kakdwip.
The rescued fisherman has been identified as Nirmal Jana.
Sundarbans development minister Manturam Pakhira said he has informed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and is rushing to hospital.
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The chief minister said Rs 2 lakh will be given as ex gratia to the kin of each of the five dead fishermen.
The government will pay for the treatment of the rescued fishermen.
