Fish of the Sea and Salt of the Earth: Struggle of Honnavar dry fishers

At the mouth of the Sharavathi river where the river meets the Arabian Sea at Kasarkod Tonka, lies one of Karnataka's most important traditional fishing commons. The beach here is not just a beach. For generations, it has been a fish drying yard, a market, and a home.

A Women-Centric Livelihood

Tonka is an intergenerational fishing community. While men go to sea, fish drying, trading and selling is almost entirely run by women.

According to studies, there are about 150 active dried fish processors at Kasarkod village, down from about 500 a decade ago, while local estimates put the number of women engaged in traditional dry fish processing at around 2000. They belong to Hindu Kharvi and Gabit communities, and also Christian and Muslim families. 

They dry 11-13 varieties of fish - mainly anchovies, mackerel, sardines, ribbon fish - on the open sunny beach with clean sea air. The method is simple and ancient: gut, wash with water from the jetty, salt, and sun-dry for 2-3 days on coir mats and nets. The product is then sold directly to consumers, to hinterlands traders, and now even to buyers as far as Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. 

Medha Patkar of NAPM was heard on social media after her maiden some months ago during her visit to Tonka, Kasarkod "Dried fish from Honnavar are sold across Asia. This too is development, while maintaining dignified women-centric livelihoods."

The Commons Under Threat

Since 2016-17, this commons has been under severe threat from the proposed Honnavar Port Private Limited which is Rs 600 crore private port for coal, iron ore and general cargo planned on 44 hectares across five villages - Tonka 1, Tonka 2, Pavinkurva, Mallukurva and Honnavar Rural. 

The fisherfolk say surveyors came one day and "forcibly demolished the area we used to dry fish". A 3-4 km four-lane link road to National Highway 66 is attempted to be built through what was earlier just beach and Olive Ridley turtle nesting ground. 

Local fishers say the road runs through CRZ-III, a no-development zone, and is part of the coastal commons used for drying fish for generations. Heavy trucks carrying coal and ore will pollute the air, making drying impossible. They expressed fear that once the port materialises, the movement of heavy vehicles would pollute the atmosphere and jeopardise their livelihood. 

The impact is already visible: the dried-fish industry that used to operate on the land stopped functioning after the port authorities took over the land.

More Than Fish

For Tonka, this is not just economic. The beach is also a sporadic nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtle, which locals worship as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and help conserve with the Forest Department. Scientists describe this coast as highly erosive and ecologically fragile.

Over 23,500 fisher folk in Honnavar, many of them women, and about 6,000 families who rely on fishing face an existential crisis. 

And yet, the resistance continues as fisherwoman Parwati Datta Tandel quips "We are fighting for our rights. We want our land, our business, and our people. We will lead our lives by doing the fish business". 

The dry fishers of Tonka are a reminder that development cannot be measured only in ports and tonnage. It is also measured in the quiet work of women turning fish under the sun, in food that reaches the poorest plates in India, and in a community that asks only to be left to continue its way of life.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Tribute of love to Great Grandma

Today, our family bids a tearful farewell to the strongest root of our family tree. My beloved Great Grandmother Smt. Gange Ramachandra Tandel left us for her heavenly abode on Saturday night at 11:13 PM at Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar.

She was not just a person, she was an era. An era of unconditional love, of selfless sacrifice, of endless patience, and of values that held our entire family together.

In her lap, we learned what love means. In her stories, we learned what life means. In her blessings, we found our strength. Her hands that blessed us, her voice that guided us, and her smile that gave us comfort will be missed every single day.

She was part of our existence, and now she will continue to live within us — in our memories, in our traditions, in the warmth of her teachings, and in every prayer of our family.

Though she is not physically with us today, her legacy will live on through generations. We will try to live up to her expectations, her values and her love.

We miss you deeply. We love you forever.

Om Shanti. 

Bhavapurna Shraddhanjali.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Tribute to Gange R. Tandel

Gange Ramachandra Tandel breathed last nearing mid-night at 11.20 pm on 19 September 2026 at her residence at Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar, Karnataka. I never got to know her age accurately but certainly know that she lived her life as wife, mother, grand mother and even great grand mother and lived till her ripe old age. I guess she must be anywhere above 80.

I knew her personally from the day stepped in her house on 27 February 2025. I met her dozen times ever since past 19 months. Last few months I have seen her deteriorating health and constant medical attention. 

Whenever I would visit her she would converse with me fondly. She narrated her life time incidents to me. There is much I learned from her.

I learned her hard toiling life not only bring up family but also about her work. She shared close relationship with the Sea. Those days fish used to be bumper. There were no trawlers, no purse seiners, no Ports around. Her husband would catch fish and she would go selling with other village women. She would go far and wide. Tonka was famous for dry fish then. There was no Honnavar Port Private Limited (HPPL) with its marauding presence disrupting dry fishing conquering spaces to dry fish and and rack up dust to trigger dust settling on drying fish in the open. There no heavy truck movements on the roads. She has seen life first hand in Kasarkod, life that was prosperous and courageous.

Gange would often come to Goa markets to sell fish. She visited Margao market often. I was stunned to know from her that she reached in bus to sell dry fish even at Mapusa Market in Goa. This market is so familiar being having being the visitor all my life. Gange would take this extra mile effort Journey to make her living little better, her family little happier.

There would always smile on her face every time I visited her house. She would sit in the balcony and converse with me and I with her till something would distract any of us.

She was witness to police brutalities on 25 February 2025 in her house, in her village. She was lady with enormous courage. I remember when I visited her house two days later on 27 February 2025 she was an exception to everyone around having broken down and let tears out as they began sharing the turmoil. She did not cry. Perhaps she did before meeting me for two days. Perhaps her tears had dried up facing life sorrows. After all she has been in witness to her villagers resisting the Port in Honnavar for last years. She has seen so much about Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar that even Chief Secretary of Karnataka Shalini Rajneesh has not.

Gange was first generation women from Tonka and neighbouring villages who were influenced with resistance ideology then led by famous Dr. Kusuma in late 1970s, early 1980s. Gange participated in protests movements then with Dr Kusuma. I saw Dr. Kusuma's photo at Sneha Kunja medical dispensary at Kasarkod some months ago and instantly recognised her having personally interacted with her during her awareness cycle yatra in 1993.

Her participated induced next three generations in her family to resists injustice. I got to know this from her grandson Raju D. Tandel who is NFSF Organising Secretary, Karnataka State few months ago when we pondered on her life.

Gange has been inspiration for her children and grand children and the villagers of Tonka, Karaskod to march forward in the path of resistance in daring manner. And when got glimpse into her life experiences during my visits to her house she inspired me too!

She is the one that society would easily cover under the carpet. Yet her life matters. Her struggle matters. Recognition to get contribution matters. The torch of resistance that she lighted in her family many decades ago matters. This matters because her action has turned her village into subject of history; refusing to be kicked around by Police, Politicians, Beaurecrats and Private Port company - HPPL.

Gange R.Tandel has her share of contribution for she was not just woman fishworker but but someone who demonstrated tremendous sense of Justice and encouraged her family to be in the struggle.

We thank Gange Tandel for the kind of life she lived and kind of legacy she had left behind for us to pick-up the baton and move for her toiling life may be rewarded with peaceful eternal rest.

Heartfelt Condolences to everyone in family.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Text of Supreme Court order on Honnavar Port

 

This Order was in response to legal challenge to Southern Zone, NGT Judgement dated 10 June 2025.

Sharavati river and the life of fishermen

 

Photo: Raju D. Tandel

I am very connected to the Sharavati River because during the rainy season, boat do not go to sea for three months, during that time small boats go in the Sharavati waters. The Sharavati River gives us fish during the rainy season. Like my mother, the Sharavati River, I don't want to lose it. The Sharavati River is our lifeline.

Sharavati is the lifeline of Honnavar. It originates at Ambuthirtha in the Western Ghats, creates the world-famous Jog Falls, and flows 128 km to meet the Arabian Sea at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada.

Where the river meets the sea, a very fertile estuary is formed. This estuary is everything for the local fishermen. For hundreds of years, around 6000 fishermen families from Tonka, Kasarkod, Mallukurva and Honnavar have depended on it for fishing, clam collection and women-led dry-fish business.

The health of the river is directly linked to the life of fishermen. When Linganamakki and Gerusoppa dams were built, the freshwater flow changed. The river mouth shifted 3.5 km to the north. Due to change in salinity, clams, mussels and special estuary fish decreased.

Now the big discussion is about HPPL - Honnavar Private Port Limited. The company has proposed to build a private commercial port right on the sand-spit where the river meets the sea.

Concerns of fishermen:

- Space for fishing: Fishermen have expressed concern that the breakwater built for the port may affect boat movement and fish breeding grounds.

- Coastal erosion: Experts say that if the natural movement of sand is obstructed, there is a possibility of increased erosion in Tonka and Kasarkod villages.

- Environmental sensitivity: This Tonka beach had several Olive Ridley turtle nestings and dense mangrove forests. In Honnavar, the dense mangroves are not exactly on the open beach - they are inside the Sharavati estuary behind the sand-split. It is important to maintain ecological balance.

What fishermen say is - "Along with development, our livelihood and environment should also be protected."

Currently discussions and legal processes are going on regarding this project, and everyone is focused on saving the Sharavati river and the sea.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Damage Caused by Honnavar Port access Road Construction to Tonka Village

Damage Observed:

* Heavy movement of trucks and machinery has caused severe dust pollution, affecting health of villagers.

* Vibrations due to construction have led to minor cracks in houses near the roadside.

* Existing village approach road is damaged, making it difficult for school children, elderly and two-wheelers to commute.

* Natural water flow / drains are blocked, leading to waterlogging in low-lying areas.

* Noise pollution and restricted access to agricultural fields.

Likely Future Damage

* Permanent damage to village houses and structures due to continuous heavy load and vibration.

* Long-term dust and air pollution leading to respiratory issues.

* Loss of agricultural land and livelihood due to dust settlement and blocked water channels.

* Increased risk of accidents due to damaged road and no proper diversions / signage.

* Groundwater and environmental impact due to improper drainage and waste dumping.

Apeksha R. Tandel

When "Lights Out" comes alive at Tonka, Honnavar

In the book Lights Out a village decides to switch off all its lights for a small sparrow. It sounds like fiction about sacrifice and kindness.

Here at Tonka-Kasarkod beach in Honnavar, Uttara Kannada, this fiction is happening for real but here, it's not for a sparrow. It's for the Olive Ridley turtle.

ALAN is deadly

ALAN is an acronym for artificial lighting at night.

1.  For mothers: Olive Ridleys nest only on dark, quiet beaches. Bright white lights from high-mast lights, harbour development and beach tourism scare the mothers away. If they feel light, they return to the sea without laying eggs.

2.  For babies: Hatchlings are born with one instinct - crawl towards the brightest light, which for millions of years was the moonlight reflecting on the sea. Today, artificial lights from the shore are brighter than the moon. The babies get disoriented, crawl towards the road and buildings, and die from exhaustion, dogs, or vehicles.

Research indicates that we must control artificial lighting along turtle nesting beaches because it disrupts hatchling orientation.

What is heartening is that the local fishermen and the forest department already understand this Lights Out philosophy. They protect the nests with green mesh, guard them from stray dogs for 45-50 days, and at night, they use dim torches to gently guide the confused hatchlings back to the sea.

Lights Out teaches us that co-existence needs sacrifice. Tonka teaches us that sacrifice is practical conservation.

If we really want to save this beach, we need planned lighting: warm amber lights instead of white Light Emitting Diode (LED), lights shielded and pointed downwards, no high-mast lights within 1 km of the nesting zone, and a complete lights-out during the nesting season from 10 PM to 4 AM.

The village in the book chose darkness to let a small bird live. Can Honnavar choose darkness to let an ancient ocean traveller live on?

This story is not just about a village in the book. Today at Tonka-Kasarkod, we need the same Lights Out for Olive Ridley turtles.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Honnavar locals petitions on marauding trucks threats in Kasarkod

To,

The Panchayat Development Officer

Kasarkod Gram Panchayat,

Honnavar

Subject: Regarding the severe danger caused to Tonka residents and fishermen due to the continuous heavy-vehicle movement belonging to Honnvara Port Private Limited through our residential area

Respected Sir/Madam,

We, the residents of Kasarkod–Tonka, bring to your notice that for the past several days, Honnavara Port Private Limited has been moving very large heavy vehicles (weighing 100–150 tons) through our narrow residential road. Because of this continuous movement, we are facing the following serious problems:

1. Our houses have developed cracks.

2. The safety of our children, women, elderly people and fishermen is at high risk.

3. Due to the vibration and shaking caused by these heavy vehicles, there is constant fear and disturbance day and night.

4. The dust pollution created by these vehicles is severely affecting the health of our children and elders.

5. Due to the traffic of these heavy vehicles, the community movement and daily activities of the villagers have been badly affected.

6. The heavy-vehicle movement has also caused significant damage to the existing village road.

Because of all these issues, our entire Tonka community is experiencing stress, fear and hardship. We are extremely unhappy with this situation. Despite repeated verbal requests, the company has not taken any remedial action.

Therefore, we hereby request you to immediately do the following on behalf of the Tonka community:

Our demands:

1. Immediately stop the movement of heavy vehicles through Tonka residential roads and direct the company to use an alternative route.

2. Inspect and assess the damage caused to our houses and ensure that the company pays adequate compensation for the damage.

3. Provide a written assurance that such dangerous vehicle movement will not be allowed again in the future through the residential area.

4. Take necessary legal action against the company for violating safety and environmental norms.

We request you to take urgent action to ensure the safety, peace and wellbeing of our community.

With respect,

Tonka Community Residents

Date: 12/12/2025

Place: Tonka – Kasarkod

Copies to:

1. Hon’ble Tahsildar, Honnavar

2. Honnavar Police Station

3. Fisheries Department, Honnavar

4. Forest Department, Honnavar

 

On the sands of Tonka

On the sands of Tonka waves of Arabian Sea kiss the shore...

On the sands of Tonka hundreds of fishers thrive to prosperity...

On the sands of Tonka Olive Ridley nests and hatchlings...

On the sands of Tonka lies fisheries livihood to people of Kasargod, Honnavar...

On the sands of Tonka plays out India's worst legal spectrum exemplified through Chennai NGT Judgement of 10 June 2025: Appeal No.07 of 2025 (SZ) & I.A. No.39 of 2025 (SZ) with Appeal No.15 of 2025 (SZ)...

On the sands of Tonka beauty behind measure sea birds fishing delight...

On the sands of Tonka eyes focused of predators...

On the sands of Tonka Sharavati and and Badangani rivers opens their mouth...

On the sands of Tonka fishers strive to defend the shore past dozen years from 2013...

On the sands of Tonka fishers battled against constructing road on the beach...

On the sands of Tonka fishers challenged heavy Port-State nexus to run over them alive... 

On the sands of Tonka railway tracks plans in offing yet claimed shelved for public pleasing...

On the sands of Tonka fishers houses are marked 'X' for erasing on 25 February 2025...

On the sands of Tonka Police on behalf of Honnavar Port Private Limited (HPPL) unleashed terror on fishers on 25 February 2025...

On the sands of Tonka several fishers were arrested and then imprisoned in Dharwad 2025 under instructions from Karwar Deputy Commisioner...

On the sands of Tonka are preying eyes of colanizers to impose Port for coal and iron ore packaged as "regional development" ruining Fisheries.

On the sands of Tonka is unbelievable accusation in NGT 10 June 2025 Judgement Para 47 "In fact, the Learned Counsel for the 2nd respondent would state that in order to oppose the project coming up certain miscreants have planted turtle eggs in the beaches of the Kasargod." And Judges believed instead of reprimanding the leanered counsel!

On the sands of Tonka we ruminate NGT verdict that voice of Public is not required to be heard by holding "Public Hearing" while grating Environmental Clearance...

On the sands of Tonka we learned how terrified HPPL is of Public Voices; we shall multiply our voices further!

On the sands of Tonka, Kasargod is first beach in the world therefore for plantation of turtle eggs!

On the sands of Tonka Rajesh Tandel and his team kept vigil to protect Olive Ridley turtle nesting and NGT Judgement refers to them as "certain miscreants"! 

On the sands of Tonka peaked battle royal on 25 February 2025 fishers famous for dry fish got into Arabian Sea waters to say no to Port on the beach...

On the sands of Tonka Uttar Kannada police unleashed terror on 25 Febrary 2025 against local fishers and tagged them criminals with dozen sections from BNS, Indian criminal law.

On the sands of Tonka people 45 people including 07 women booked arrested from and 24 imprisoned for 24 days in Dharwad Jail without bail on 25 February 2025

On the sands of Tonka young 18 years old girl Apeksha Tandel provoked crisis in the administration when she addressed press conference rebuking police repression in her village on 25 February 2025...

On the sands of Tonka Police unleashed selective violence against young man Raju Tandel as a reward for his Lokayukta litigations exposing scams of Port authorities.

On the sands of Tonka flourished dry fishing livelihoods till Port captured the coast few years ago...

On the sands of Tonka are found footprints of brave locals gushing forth to uphold the flag of freedom...

On the sands of Tonka lies the call to us to play our role to defend fisher people, to defend serene coast, uphold fishers right to water, and lot more...

On the sands of Tonka lies an invitation to imagine and indulge, play our cards to safeguard the beach worthy still to build castles in the sand...

On the sands of Tonka there is a calling to intellectuals, writers, poets, academics, journalists, cartoonists, creative, and all those who love defend freedom to join shoulder-to-shoulder people of Kasargod and raise the uprising just the way there is world wide uprising in defence of Palestine fishers and other people...

On the sands of Tonka there are CCTV survellance cameras installed and electricity poles planted, road constructed and Artificial Lighting at Night (ALAN) in place, all done to push push back turtles and the fishers when 24 village men were kept in Dharwad Jail for 24 days...

On the sands of Tonka there is travesty of Justice in all forms: Around 1000 Police force of Uttara Kannada administer violence without name plates on their chests but with masks on their faces, NGT Chennai delivers Judgement without Justice.

On the sands of Tonka there is fading memory of the two people who pronounced 10 June 2025 National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chennai as sample of what could be worst imaginable environmental jurisprudence: Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, EM

On the sands of Tonka there is tragedy of commons witnessed as corporates and private interests - hidden faces behind Honnavar Port Private - Limited decimates India's Environmental Jurisprudence.

On the sands of Tonka there is a lazy emerging resurgence of might with waves of the sea as its mighty strength; let's cheer as it builds up...

On the sands of Tonka there are whispers "so what if MOEF&CC and NGT and HPPL doesn't care to listen to the voice of the coast? We will still speak up and speak up with all our might, might of the Arabian Sea waves, might of gushing waters of Sharavathi River and might of our ancestors!"

On the sands of Tonka we realize we now need to unleash networks of mass collaboration to surmount the challenge! 

Sebastian Rodrigues

NFSF calls for halt to Police Repression on Fishers of Uttar Kannada coast

27 March 2025

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) strongly supports fishing communities of Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar, Uttar Kannada. BJP was voted out in elections and Congress was elected to power during last elections. 

And now one only need to see Congress performance from Honnavar coast onwards to North Karnataka.

The way fishing communities of Tonka, Kassarkod under compulsive expulsions from the Coast with Police violence, arrests and intriguing police narrative that fishers as encroachers of Arabian Sea has all been highly objectionable conduct towards respect for fishing communities.

The way Tonka nesting site is being destroyed by Karnataka government by installing ALAN (Artificial Lighting At Night) on Tonka beach on inter-tidal space to disrupt turtle nesting is most disgusting.

The way Cartographic crimes are committed by erasing entire Tonka, Kasarkod fishing habitat from CZMP map is at best conspitorial. What is even more dangerous is that this case (original application no. 212/2024) is believed to be pending in NGT Chennai since 24 September 2024 without any date of next hearing while police are working on ground to clear off people's habitations.

Congress was good as opposition there. Now they have outsmarted BJP in brutalities towards coastal ecosystems and coastal people through violent enforcement of bharatmala - roads and Rail lines plans on Tonka beach for Sagarmala - Ports.

45 people including 07 women criminally charged on February 25, 2025 in latest wave of criminalizing fishing communities with invocation of dozen criminal sections of BNS that attracts punishments of death penalty and life sentences. Even people like Ganapati Tandel and Renuka Tandel who were in Bangalore on that day are criminally charged for crimes on Tonka beach. Raju Tandel, a young fisher from Tonka known for his complaints to Lokayukta was brutal assaulted by police before pushing him in police van. Police inflicted injuries on upper left hand of woman Rojah Tandel, injuries on upper inside thigh of senior fisher Mahmood Koya Sab. Of these 24 fishers were detain in Dharward jail for 24 days in Judicial Custody. Even Rajesh Tandel, leaders of local fisher labouer Union and the one who champions the cause of Olive Ridley turtles nesting site on Tonka beach was criminally charged yet again and jailed. Mental status of Rekha Tandel has decended into severe depressive illness due to shock over witnessing police beastiality on Tonka beating administrating brutal violence on fishers without name plates and badges on their Uniforms with masked faces. Arrested women were abandoned on roadside and hospital at mid-night by police. Conduct of hospital staff to refuse to record police inflicted injuries on  hospital case paper records is extremely dangerous collusion of State health authorities with Politically repression regime. It was dark day in the history of fisher struggle in Karnataka in 21st century.

NFSF applauds efforts of Adv. B.T.Venkatesh and his legal team to obtain bail for Tonka fishers.

NFSF has carried on site visits and offered Solidarity with fishing communities under trauma due to state repression and threats to demolish their houses to construct roads and rails on Tonka beach.

Situation is severe of these several thousand fishers who are also well known for fish drying due to unique ecological sensitivity of Tonka beach wherein mouth of Sharavathi River is known to be shifting over time by few kilometers and there is no stability to the beach as portion gets submerged in Arabian Sea water and new beach surfaces over period of time.

NSFS has petioned Deputy Commisioner of Karwar who sanctioned police actions on beaches at Keni, Ankola on 24 February 2025 and Tonka beach very next day on 25 February 2025.

NFSF has also petitioned Chief Minister of Karnataka, Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha as well as leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha expression our fierce opposition to disrupt life of fishing communities on Uttar Kannada Coast.

NSFS is monitoring the ground  zero situation minutely and have noted that CCTV cameras are installed on approach paths to the residences of Raju Tandel, Rajesh Tandel and Ganapati Tandel as surveillance measures that violated right to privacy.

NFSF has also noted large number of CRPF personell carrying on marching in the village to create situation of fear and tension to fishing communities on 26 February 2025.

NFSF considers the entire police and Port actions in Tonka and Keni not only as in contravention of the Constitution of India but also in violation to VG-SSF Guidelines to which India is signatory with commitment to protect small scale fishing communities and adoption of eco-system based approach to Fisheries.

NFSF calls for: 

1. Withdrawal of all criminal cases against fishers of Tonka, 

Kasarkod 

2. Total halt to police repression on fishers of Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar and Keni, Ankola.

3.  Stoppage to police behavior like that of SP Karwar as public relations officers of Private Ports Company calling fishers as encroachers of marine waters.

4. Transformation of colonial thinking that has imposed Ports to destroy fishing based livelihoods and marine ecology on Uttara Kannada Coast.

Sebastiao Rodrigues,

General Secretary,

NFSF

When Police shocked Tonka fishing community at Kasarkod, Honnavar notes reflections from ground zero

03 March 2025

Few more detailed gory facts about Tonka, Kasarkod Police violence has come to our attention as under:

1. On February 25, 2025 at 10.00 am Karnataka Police descended on Tonka, Kasarkod in Honnavar Taluka Taluka in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka State in Western India. They were around 1000 personnel in uniform. 50% of them were in suspicious dress code: khaki Police uniform without their name plates and buckle numbers tagged on their shirts and with black masks covering their faces. Unusual police outfit.

2. Fishing community at Tonka Beach is in legal possession of the Coastal land from 1991 according to the knowledgeable sources. Hence are entitled to be served notice in case State Authorities need possession of the land for any purpose. So far no notices are served on any of them.

3. State Authorities are trying to take possession of the Coastal beach land at Tonka without serving notices to fishing communities by use of Police force to survey their immovable property including their land and houses for past four years.

4. This attempt has been challenged successfully by fishing communities of Tonka over this period.

5. On July 21, 2021 State administration attempted to demolish the fishing communities houses through bulldozers during heavy rains. This attempt was countered successfully by fishing communities there.

6. Local fisherman Raju Tandel filed complaint before Lokayukta, Karnataka against Assistant Director of Land Records (ADLR), Honnavar for carrying on survey in their village without serving notices to the villagers. Lokayukta took cognizance of the complaint and even indicted higher officer holding the post of Assistant Commisioner (AC) at Bhatkal in this crime. Officer went to Politicians for protection but wasn't successful. The rage accumulated against Raju Tandel was intense.

7. Raju Tandel spoke at the public protests against the illegal survey in the village with police protection and joined the group of village people to drawn themselves in waters of Arabian Sea as an expression of dissent between 10.30 am to 11.00 am. Raju was injured during this act as salty sea water entered his body; was taken to hospital where he vomited during treatment. Hospital records of 25.02.2025 notes in his case papers "alleged attempt to drawn by falling into water". After sometime with due treatment Raju Tandel was sent back and reached home at Tonka around 2.00 pm. He was resting in his house and had not taken any food intake. 

8. While Raju Tandel returned home Police were providing protection to those carrying on illegal survey of the Beach locality to mark out land with installation of cement boundary stones painted with danger red on both sides of the road and marking out houses to be demolished.

9. In the meanwhile young girl from the family of Raju Tandel named Apeksha R. Tandel gave media bite that went viral during the day. She declared that she will commit suicide in case her parents are taken in Police custody. 

10. Viral video attracted visit from Lady Assistant Commisioner, Bhatkal to her house along with 8 Policemen and team from Women and Child Welfare department along with Tehsildar, Honnavar to Raju Tandel's residence at 3.30 pm. They entered sitting room inside the house of Raju Tandel and questioned the girl assuming that she is a minor. They instructed villagers not to video film the discussions for some mysterious reasons. They wanted to know as to who tutored Apeksha to speak to media threatening suicide and and wanted to take her away from the village but did not do anything like that. 

11. Instead Lady Assitant Commisioner went out of the house to receive the phone call on her mobile phone. Villagers standing nearby heard her telling on the phone to fetch two police vans at Tonka.

12. While still inside in his house hungry Raju Tandel got a call around 4.00 pm that Police are beating up his fellow fisher neighbour Ravi Tandel. Hearing this Raju Tandel rushed out of house into the Gallery. In the gallery police caught hold of Raju Tandel and dragged him out away from the house. There they started beating him up with lathis and fists. They then pushed him on ground and kicked him with heavy police shoes. Imagine the agony Raju has gone through already. Then they dragged him around 20 meters and pushed him inside the police van and continued to beat him up. Then police closed the door and windows of the police vans and we don't know what happened to him after that. We don't know the depth of cruelty inflicted on Raju Tandel.

13. Several more fishers were beaten up like Raju, dragged and pushed inside the police van. Mangunath Pandurang Tandel was dragged from his house toilet while answering nature's call. Ragavendra Prakash Tandel was arrested from the same house as Raju Tandel. Some of these 45 people are very vulnerable financially, medically and are still languishing inside the jail at Dharwad as of on 03.03.2025 almost a week in police lock up without freedom, without bail. None of these fishers have ventured in their cannoes for their daily fishing activities.

14. Police manhandled, beaten up, bruised several women too and were taken in custody. Some of these women includes Roja Ramesh Tandel, Padmavati Hanumant Tandel, Nagamani Deepak Tandel, Parvati Mahadev Tandel, Sunita Satosh Tandel and Roshni Datta Tandel. These women were released on the city road middle of the night at 9.00 pm by police; left to find their way home on their own. Still some more women found themselves abandoned in the city hospital at 2.00 am on 26.02.2025 as police just vanished. 

15. They were taken for medical tests at Honnavar Government Hospital. Medical team at the hospital refused to treat any injuries women received due to police violence. There were bruises on faces and upper portion of women's hands when ther were violently pinched and beaten up. Hospital simply refused to put this on record. Instead hospital staff told women to tell if they got cough and fever which they were really to treat. And none had any of these sicknesses. This is a dangerous case of medical establishment colluding with police to perpetrate injustice and oppresion against fishing communities.

16. When Rekha Rajesh Tandel collapsed during protests on 25.02.2025 police refused nearby government Ambulance to be made available to take her to the hospital. Private Ambulance had to be arranged at the cost of Rs.5000/- to rush her to the hospital. A week later she is still shocked and getting treatment in ICU of the hospital while her husband Rajesh Tandel who champions turtle conservation efforts at Tonka beach is in Darward jail along with his fellow fishermen while their children are sheltered by good Samaritan somewhere at the neighbourhood.

17. While people were being taken taken into police vans to effect arrests police went on chasing people grabbed them and took away several mobile phones. Phone are not returned till date and can be termed as robbery by police personel. They did this so that there will be no video records of the constitutional violations, human rights violations. Some phone were formated immidiately to do away with video that could be used as evidence against this police action.

18. The above details indicates that fishing communities at Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar are subject to terrorist actions in police uniforms. There is complete collapse of police department and terrorist mindset has hijacked policing in Uttar Kannada District. Police has attracted notoriety for Karnataka Home Ministry. 

19. Urgent steps are necessary to deal with this situation. This note needs to be shared widely and acted upon. Community resisting predatory attack from Police and Port authorities needs to be supported strongly in all possible ways. Condemnation statements against Atrocities committed and reported in this note needs to be issued widely. This note needs to be studied and acted upon in various study groups across India and beyond and effective strategy chalked out to deal with various aspects and challenges in sensible and sensitive manner. 

Sebastiao Rodrigues 

General Secretary

National Platform of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Letter to Karwar Deputy Commisioner on Police repression at Tonka and Keni in Uttar Kannada

From:

Sebastiao Rodrigues

General Secretary,

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF),

20/4, Sil Lane, 

Kolkata - 700 015

Mobile: 9923336347

E-mail: inlandfisheries.india@gmail.com 

Date: 27 February 2025

Ref. no. NFSF/GS/Kar-01/25

To,

K. Laxmipriya

Deputy Commisioner,

Karwar,

Uttar Kannada,

Karnataka,

India 

Email: dckarwar@gmail.com 

Phone: 9483511015, 9791099097, 9449589597

Subject: Police repression against fishing communities at Keni, Ankola on 24.02.2025 and at Kasarkod, Honnavar on 25.02.2025...Regarding.

Madam,

We are constrained to draw your attention to the following two media reports:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/fishermen-and-women-jump-into-sea-to-oppose-keni-commercial-port-in-karnataka/article69257361.ece

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/protest-against-port-intensifies-in-uk-dist/articleshow/118564021.cms

We are shocked to note that your office authorised Police action on small scale fishing communities on the coast of Keni village in Ankola Taluka and in Kasarkod village in Honnavar Taluka back to back on 24 and 25 February 2025.

We have got reports that fishing communities in both the localities are fiercely opposed to the proposed Port projects and your office is providing Police protections to protect Port developers. 

We consider that it is of utmost urgency that coast is defended from such developments as it threatens not only fishing based livelihoods but also community identity as fishers. And we are already aware the irreversible damage faced by fishing communities due to Port installations in Karwar. We got to lessons from this rather than committing more such follies.

We have also received information that 45 fisher people of Kasarkod, Honnavar are criminally chared under as many as thirteen sections of BNS that attracts punishment extending to death sentence and life sentence. This is the reward State administration has bestowed upon these fishers for demonstrating their intention to protect the coast at Tonka, Kasargod that is Turtle Nesting site from permanent damage through Port project. Amongst those criminally charged includes 38 men and 07 women named in FIR registered against them at Honnavara Police station on 25.02.2025 with 0049/2025 as crime number.

What is shocking is that amongst those criminally charged includes also those who were not present to commit the offences they are supposed to have committed. The example of Ganapati Tandel and Renuka Ganapati Tandel is one of the glaring one as they were in transit from Mangalore to Bengaluru on 25.02.2025 evening flight.

The choice of names in FIR indicates malafide intention of mass criminalization of fishing communities to instill fear amongst fearless, courageous and dignified fishers of Kasarkod.

As we came to know through media reports that fishers have been in opposition to Port project for past four years it looks to be desperate attempt of State administration to tag these fishers as criminals once again. We are aware that this was attempted earlier too.

Times of India links we shared on this report has interesting conclusion that we wish to quote for you here "While the government views the port construction as a means to boost trade and commerce, fishermen fear loss of their livelihood." NFSF stands on the side of fishermen and express our total outrage againt all the intimidating tactics adopted against fishing communities both in Ankola and Honnavara coasts.

In Kasarkod 1000 Policemen were brought in to protect surveyors landside of the HTL while people gathered on the beach on inter-tidal space and water. Few Policemen were spotted without their name plates and buckle numbers on their uniforms. Additionally few Policemen covered their faces with black masks which was very suspicious act in itself as we noticed from the photos circulating on social media.

We got reports that police entered people's houses later in the evening and whisked away people to police vans to bebtaken into police custody.

We really want you to take through the labyrinths of criminality attributed to dignified fishermen and fisherwonen of Kasarkod. Here are the 13 sections of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023:

Section on fisherfolk at Tonka;

109; Attempt to murder. This attracts even life sentence.

115(2); Punishment for voluntarily causing 

hurt. This attracts one year in Prison

121(1);Voluntarily causing hurt or grivious hirt to deter public servant from his duty. This has five year jail term

 126(2); Wrongful restraint. This attracts one month imprisonment.

132; Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. This attracts two years imprisonment. 

189(2);Unlawful assembly- Being member of 

unlawful assembly. This attracts six months jail term.

190;Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object.

191(2); Rioting- Punishment for rioting. Two years jail term.

351(3); Criminal intimidation punishment. This attracts jail sentence of seven years.

352; Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace. This attracts two years imprisonment.

49; Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made 

for its punishment.

61(2); Criminal conspiracy punishment. This attracts death sentence.

74; Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty. This attracts punishment of five years imprisonment.

And now we wish to reproduce names of fishers of Kasarkod recorded in FIR mentioned above. We start with seven women accused:

1. Parvati Datta Tandel

2. Recharge Rajesh Tandel

3. Bharati Rajesh Tandel

4. Renuka Ganapati Tandel

5. Vimala Kamalakar

6. Yashoda Devendra Tandel

7. Vishala Shantaram Tandel

And now 38 fishermen of Kasarkod accused:

1. Rajesh Govind Tandel

2. Hamja Patel

3. Raju Datta Tandel

4. Mahamad Koya Sab

5. Vivan Felison Fernandes

6. Rajesh Sheshagiri Tandel

7. Ayub Sab

8. Bhaskar Tandel

9. Ramesh Babu Tandel

10. Manjunath Devayya Tandel

11. Manoj Sheshagiri Tandel

12. Yasin Hamja Sab

13. Ganapati Tandel

14. Ramesh Manjunath Tandel

15. Manjunath Pandurang Tandel

16. Raghuvendra Prakash Tandel

17. Made Janna Tandel

18. Siyab Shaikh Kunji Sab

19. Rajesh Mohan Tandel

20. Mahammad Yahya Mohammad Sab Baba

21. Nagaraj Devappa Tandel

22. Basheer Ismail Patel

23. Mahammad Abdul Patel

24. Tamum Jameer Sab

25. Suleman G.H. Hassan

26. Siraj Hamjad Sab

27. Sachin Chandra Tandel

28. Sandeep Ramdas Tandel

29. Narasimha Nanda Tandel

30. Salman Khan Ismail Sab

31. Subray Damu Tandel

32. Harsha Pandurang Tandel

33. Kiran Ramchandra Mesta

34. Shantaram Manjunath Tandel

35. Vinay Krishna Tandel

36. Manjunath Tandel

37. Ashfaq Mahhamad Nellikum

38. Ramesh Manjunath Tandel

And the team that criminalized these fishers all have common address: Port office, Honnavar, R/o Sea Bird Road, Baithkol, Karwar, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka

The one signed as complainant is Sayinath Narayan Pednekar. And five names that appears in FIR includes Matesh Fernandes, Roshan Gunagi, Vivek Savant, Batte A.Y. and Vinayak Datta Naik. 

Please convey our strongest outrage to the Karnataka administration that has unleashed Police terror though your office against fishing communities defending their lives and fishing based livelihoods. 

We hereby call upon your office: 

1. To stop harrarrasing and criminalizing fishing communities who live dignified life though their fishing based hard labour. Neither State nor Corporate has right to expell them from the coast. 

2. To withdraw all the criminal cases filed against fishers on 25.02.2025 as mentioned above. We call upon your office to get the FIR quashed.

Fishers in Uttara Kannada deserve much better treatment than the way your office is perceiving them as criminals that are to be banished from the coast. This is indeed abuse of your office to launch something heineou against fishing communities who are first defence of our coasts. It is deeply regrettable to note the way your office is treating fishing communities in insulting manner.

Awaiting your quick and decisive response in defence of fishing communities.

Thanking you, 

Yours Truly,

Sebastiao Rodrigues

General Secretary, 

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Copy to:

1. All concerned government authorities 

2. Fishing communities on the coast of Uttara Kannada District.