Fishermen in West Kochi have alleged harassment by the personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) looking after security at Cochin Port Trust.
Fishermen, under the aegis of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, have sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention in the matter. The fishermen have also sent copies of their complaint to Cochin Port Trust as well as to Fisheries Minister and member of the State legislature from West Kochi. The complaint alleged that fishermen from areas such as Chellanam, Fort Kochi, Palluruthy, Edakochi, Perumpadappu and Thoppumpady were being harassed by the CISF personnel. Hundreds of these fishermen traditionally depend on the backwaters off Kochi for their livelihood.
Allegations denied
However, CISF sources denied these allegations. The complaint by fishermen might have been in the wake of the recently-concluded ‘Theeravetta’, a multi-agency security drill in the backwaters and the shipping channel.
CISF sources said their rights extended over the shipping channel and the security personnel often had to warn fishermen from entering the shipping channel as their frequent presence might cause accidents.