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

 

Heavy machinery movement at Honnavar on Kasarkod beach

Heavy machinery movement was seen today at Kasarkod Beach in Honnavar today. Policeman is seen escorting the heavy vehicles meant to destroy Honnavar beach for sure. Local people at Kasarkod Beach are opposed to the Port project and their opposition in February 2025 was greeted with violent police reprisal on the villagers and arrests and detention for over 20 days at Darwad jail. 

Police repression and ecologically detective projects has come to be the hallmark of current Congress Government in Karnataka. Few weeks ago Rahul Gandhi was seen jostling with fishermen in Bihar and he cares a dam for plight of fishers in Honnavar at Kasarkod Beach.

Exact Flaws at Honnavar Port affairs at Kasarkod

 

To,

The Member Secretary

State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka

Room No. 706, 7TH Floor, 4th Gate, M.S Building, 

Bangalore-560001, Karnataka

Email: msseiaakarnataka@gmail.com 

7th October 2025

Sub: Representation pursuant to the Hon’ble Supreme Court order in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 dated 8th September 2025 on M/s Honnavar Port Pvt Ltd

Reference: 

1. Representation dated 18th December 2024 to your office by ‘Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga’ & 3 others;

2. The Hon’ble Supreme Court order in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 dated 8th September 2025

Respected Sir,

It is respectfully submitted that on 8th September 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 (Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga v. SEIAA & Anr), was pleased to hold that “it is well open to the appellant to approach the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, as law so provides”, when hearing the claim of the Appellant that they have not been recognised as stakeholders and hence their grievances have not been heard, or factored in. A copy of the Hon’ble SC order is annexed as Annexure–1.

It is pertinent to state that, owing to the decision of your office to exempt the requirement of public hearing at the stage of issuance of the Terms of Reference (ToR) on 12th August 2024, the fisherfolk community has been denied its rightful opportunity to raise objections and concerns with respect to the proposed Honnavar Port. This denial was further compounded when a fresh public hearing was not conducted at the stage of issuance of the Environmental Clearance dated 31st December 2024.

It may be recalled that the affected fisherfolk along with civil society representatives had, by way of a representation dated 18th December 2024, already placed on record their specific concerns regarding the impacts of the port and its allied infrastructure. However, till date, no response has been received to the said representation. A copy of the 18th December 2024 representation is annexed as Annexure-2.

Be that as it may, and in continuation of our earlier submissions, and in compliance of the Order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court , we now seek to place before your office serious concerns and material discrepancies relating to the port project and its allied infrastructure, which directly affect the lives and livelihood of the Kasarkod fisherfolk community.

Misrepresentation of Kasarkod Fishing Port as ‘Fish Landing Centre’ in CZMP Map No. 25: It is submitted that the existing Kasarkod Fishing Port, situated in Kasarkod village on the left banks of the Sharavathi river, has been erroneously shown as a ‘Fish Landing Centre’ in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) Map No. 25. A copy of CZMP Map No. 25 is annexed as Annexure-3. 

In contrast, the small fish landing area at Honnavar side (on the right bank of Sharavathi river) has been incorrectly demarcated as a ‘Fishing Port’. 

Information obtained under RTI confirms that, by Government Order No. AHF 51 SFS 2015, Bangalore, dated 15th September 2016, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, in exercise of its powers under Section 2(g) of the Karnataka Marine Fisheries (Regulation) Act, 1986, has formally declared Kasarkod Harbour, Honnavar, as a ‘Fishing Port’.

Furthermore, the Government Order dated 15th September 2016 clarifies that no ‘Fish Landing Centre’ exists in Honnavar Taluk. Therefore, the current CZMP demarcation is factually inaccurate and contrary to the official Government notification. 

It is pertinent to highlight that the CZMP Maps for the State of Karnataka prepared under CRZ Notification 2019 suffers from various shortcomings. To name a few- misrepresentation of existing fishing infrastructure, non-demarcation of fisher folk houses and coastal commons, non-demarcation of Kasarkod as Turtle nesting beach, demarcation of Port Limits covering our properties without consultation, etc. 

It is pertinent to highlight that as per Para 6 (vi) of the CRZ Notification, 2019 the State has the power to revisit the CZMP maps. The highlighted discrepancies is reason enough for such a revision.  

A copy of the RTI response inclusive of Government Order No. AHF 51 SFS 2015, Bangalore, dated 15th September 2016 is annexed as Annexure-4. 

The alignment and width of the proposed port connectivity road have undergone significant changes since the Public Hearing conducted on 27th January 2012: As per the EIA Report submitted in 2012 for obtaining Environmental Clearance, the connectivity road was proposed by expanding the existing single-lane road along the shoreline, running parallel to the coast for approximately 4 km from the project site through Kasarkod village up to National Highway-66, with a proposed width of 25 metres.

In contrast, the EIA Report submitted in 2024 now proposes an entirely different alignment. The connectivity road is planned parallel to the existing road but at an offset distance of about 100 metres, with a reduced total length of 2.58 km from NH-66 to the project site, and an increased width of 30 metres.

Further, a survey conducted in February 2025 was specifically intended to identify and demarcate households and community property within 35 metres from the High Water Mark that would be directly impacted by this revised alignment.

It is evident that there has been a substantial change in the material particulars relating to the alignment, length, and width of the port connectivity road passing through the sea shore of Kasarkod village. These alterations, introduced after the Public Hearing of 2012, constitute significant deviations that were never placed before the affected communities for consultation.

Survey of Fisherfolk Properties Impacted by 35m Wide Road Conducted in Secrecy (February 2025): It has come to light, through information obtained under the Right to Information Act from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Karwar, that a survey of fisherfolk properties falling within 35 metres of the High Water Mark was completed on 26th February 2025 and the report on the same was circulated between various Government Department by 21st May 2025. However, this report has neither been made available to the Kasarkod Gram Panchayat nor shared with the fishing unions and affected fisherfolk whose properties and livelihoods stand to be directly impacted by the proposed port access road.

It is further submitted that the survey grossly underestimates the number of infrastructures and fishing-related sheds that will be lost due to the construction of the 35-metre-wide road. RTI response dated 1st August from Deputy Commissioner, Karwar is hereto marked and annexed as Annexure-5. 

Omission of Kasarkod Village from the List of Impacted Fishing Villages in the EIA Report

It is submitted that the EIA Report (Chapter 3: Description of Environment, Table 3-35) lists 17 fishing villages along with details on the number of families, traditional fishermen families, BPL families, and fisherfolk population, purportedly sourced from the CMFRI Fishery Census Handbook 2016 for Karnataka State.

However, the details pertaining to Kasarkod village, where the proposed port project is located, have been entirely omitted in the report submitted by HPPL.

As per the CMFRI Fishery Census Handbook (2016), Kasarkod village comprises 752 fishermen families, including 719 traditional fishermen families, 696 BPL families, and a total fisherfolk population of 3,736.

It is further significant to highlight that Kasarkod village hosts the largest fisherfolk population in the entire Honnavar Taluk. The deliberate exclusion of this vital data renders the EIA report incomplete, misleading, and in violation of the requirement to present a true and comprehensive picture of the project’s social and livelihood impacts.

The report in its entirety can be accessed at the link below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V-GuQPbgU0jcjtgiSU651xxX5GJfB-i7?usp=sharing

 

Non-disclosure on Rehabilitation and Resettlement that it ought to arise from the road and rail connectivity: It is submitted that the proposed 2.58 km long road and 8.5 km railway network is aligned through the coastal village of Kasarkod which as per 2016 data is inhabited by 752 fisherfolk families and has a total population of 3,736 individuals. It is submitted that all these fisherfolk families in Kasarkod village were granted land by the Government of Karnataka in 1979 and were rehabilitated from flood affected village of Mallukurva. Since then, they have inhabiting on the same land and has been paying taxes and levies to the Government.  

The EIA report submitted by HPPL fails to acknowledge the existence of such a huge fisherfolk population in the nearest vicinity of the project and makes no provision for their rehabilitation and resettlement. 

In fact, Chapter 7 of the EIA report under Table 7-1: Public Hearing Action Plan, responding to a specific objection raised during the PH about the land acquisition, the proponent vehemently denies the requirement of private land acquisition and requirement of rehabilitation. Notably, the Project Engineer of the Project Proponent has himself publicly stated that 101 structures are falling on the 35 meter road being planned to be built along with the port, which indicates that there is need for rehabilitation.

Provision of Turtle Conservation Plan: The EIA Report refers to a Turtle Conservation Plan in Appendix Q, which has not been made available on the Parivesh Portal. Accordingly, it is requested if a copy of the said Turtle Conservation Plan can be shared with the undersigned.

In light of the above, it is respectfully submitted that the Honnavar Port project suffers from serious procedural lapses, misrepresentations, and material omissions that strike at the root of its validity under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), 2006 framework and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019. The denial of public hearing, the misclassification of fishing infrastructure in the CZMP, the omission of Kasarkod village and its large fisherfolk population from the EIA, the non-disclosure of rehabilitation and resettlement obligations, and the secretive and inaccurate survey of properties cumulatively demonstrate a failure to uphold the principles of transparency, natural justice, and participatory decision-making mandated under law.

Given the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order dated 8th September 2025, affirming our right to approach this Authority, we humbly request that the SEIAA:

Reconsider and review the Environmental Clearance granted to M/s Honnavar Port Pvt Ltd on 31st December 2024, in light of the discrepancies and omissions detailed herein;

Direct a fresh and comprehensive assessment, including mandatory public hearing, with full participation of the fisherfolk of Kasarkod and other affected villages;

Ensure a transparent re-survey of properties and infrastructures affected by the proposed 35-metre-wide port access road, with prior notice to and participation of the Kasarkod Gram Panchayat and the fishing unions; and

Take all further steps necessary to safeguard the rights, livelihoods, and environment of the Kasarkod fisherfolk community.

We, the affected fisherfolk and their union, therefore pray that this Authority act in the spirit of fairness and legality to ensure that the Honnavar Port project does not proceed at the cost of our community’s survival and the fragile coastal ecology.

Respectfully,

          Sd/-

(Rajesh Govind Tandel)

President, Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga 

Copy marked to:

The Additional Chief Secretary 

Government of Karnataka, 

Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, 

M.S.Building, Dr.Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore – 560 001

Email: prs-fee@karnataka.gov.in 

Director of Ports & Member (Maritime & IWT Operations)

Directorate of Ports & IWT, Baithkol, Karwar

Email: directoratep@gmail.com 

Directorate of Fisheries Government of Karnataka

3RD FLOOR, TOWER Dr, PODIUM BLOCK, 

Vishweshwaraiah Rd, Ambedkar Veedhi, Vasanth Nagar, 

Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Email: dfkamataka@rediffmail.com 

Deputy Commissioner, Karwar

Uttar Kanada district, Karwar-581301

Email: dckarwar@gmail.com 

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.