Siridao protests against section 39-A: some reflections

Just like so many sites in Goa protests have hit Siridao village on the banks of Zuari river. Principal target of protests section 39-A of TCP Act used for conversion of Private Forest land, natural slopes into settlement Zone.

After protests in the village on 19th February 2026 dissent got escalated with protests a TCP office at Panjim on 21st February 2026. Protesters were lifted up violently after people remained squating at night outside the doors of TCP office at Dempo towers. This time amongst those who were violently lifted out with police force includes St. Andre MLA Viresh Borkar.

Arch.Tahir Noronha has provided factual status about this land matter in his online video posted on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVDUB9dj5dL/?igsh=MTB0eTBqaDlxYmJxMg==

Do or die call is given against section 39-A and mass protests are ongoing today 23 February 2026 at Azad Maidan. 

It's Dempos who has effected change of zoning of nearly 76,000 square meters of hilly forest land of Siridao village under tribal people cultivation of vegetables for several generations even before 1968 Land Revenue Code made Goa's land sale-able. This is the law that introduced notorious Form I &XIV which imposed regime of private property decisively on Goa nearly kicking out communal land ownership laws of 1961 without formal repeal. 

Land protests in Goa have barely understood this and instead of targeting Goa Land Revenue Code 1968 - that gave "occupants " status of ownership to enter into negotiations under Transfer of Properties Act -  have launched war on section 39-A of TCP Act. Something drastically wrong in land legal governance regime in Goa. This wrong is what actually facilitated land control to eco-criminals like Dempos who massacred Goa's forests through mining for half a century.

While it is important to demonize section 39-A and get it knocked off along with all the Zone changes effected under the same provision, it is of pivotal importance to get up for long drawn struggle to repeal Land Revenue Code itself, revoke land titles granted under the same and restore communal ownership of land as per 1961 law that debars sale of land. Land, water, air, ocean, rivers, seas are essence of nature where humans should not interfere to buy and sell and should be kept out of cspitalist economy logic and must be retained as natural economy components. Anything less than this is surely, though gradually destined to take Goa to ruins and its people into slavery. 

The war needs to be intelligently waged and battles shrewdly fought. This needs some hard decisions, some out-of-box thinking and grace of God too. 

Siridao has been consistently in forefront land defence protests over past few decades. Siridao also fought in defence of its beach being declared as Blue Flag designation with exclusive use rights to tourists. Village has several well known predators with Dempos being one of the cleverest one who subdued the villages through free distribution of canji (pez) on village feast Sunday after Easter. Village also has new entrant predators such as one of the siblings of Goa Tourism Minister putting up construction next to beach and repeated efforts at blocking traditional beach access that villagers had to fight against. Siridao has beautiful beach as well as river and the large land is within ambit of CRZ regime. Palem portion of the village is predomintantly inhabitants by tribal people - Gawdas who are classified as Scheduled Tribes engaged in active cultivation of hillside that was captured by Dempos allegedly through various illicit means, not surprising considering its their common practice of aquiring land of Goa.

Siridao also have large portion of its population working in various European countries. Village is famous for its fishing, toddy taping, hillside cultivation, its articulate citizen Simon Afonso and well known artist Loretti Pinto whose art "Prayers of the faithful (2024)" depicting section 39-A in Goa's topography goes along with this blog post.

We join people of Siridao in Solidarity!

Call for Police patrolling at Vainginim and Odxel beaches

13 December 2025

To,

The Police Inspector, 

Panaji Police Station,

Panaji, Goa

To,

In-charge,

Police sub-station,

Taleigao, Tiswadi, Goa

Subject: Request for Police Patrolling at Vaiginim and Odxel beaches

Sirs,

There are constant instances of tourists creating nuisance by drinking and smashing liqour bottles at Vaiginim Beach thereby creating dangerous situations for fishermen on the beach working for their livelihoods. Few of these fishermen are members of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) and we call upon you to act.

Secondly we also draw your attention to increasing frequenting of students at Odxel beach and smoking ganja and other narcotic substances. This is indeed very bad occurrence for the locality inhabitated by fishers etc and we call upon Police to act on this. 

Most often the above described situations occur during night time.

We expect your co-operation.

Thank you.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary 

Copy to:

1. Deputy Superitendent of Police, Police Headquarters, Panaji, Goa

Contempt of Court orders in Writ Petition No. 370 of 2024 through illegal mechanised fishing at Zuari river mouth and call to demarcate 05 kms specified area

 25.10.2025

To,

The Chief Secretary, 

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Superitendent of Police, 

Coastal Security, 

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Contempt of Court orders in Writ Petition No. 370 of 2024 through illegal mechanised fishing at Zuari river mouth and call to demarcate 05 kms specified area

Sir/Madam

Late night of 23.10.2025 at 10.18 pm around 10 trawling mechanised boats carried on illegal fishing on very mouth of Zuari river near Dona Paula.

This is the first incident of ineffectiveness of Government machinery to enforce ban on mechanised fishing beyond 05 kms distance from the shore after 16.10.2025 joint meeting between All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) with Director of Fisheries, Senior officers of Captain of Ports and Senior police officers of coastal security to thebranks of Deputy Superitendent and Police Inspector review implimentaion of High Court directions in Writ Petition 370 of 2024.

We believe that such Violations continue to repeat because your office has never implimented one of the important directions of the High Court in Writ Petition 370 of 2025 (All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union VS Government of Goa) that states "Patrol boats of the Fisheries department as well as Coastal Security Police must be stationed at the Dona Paula Jetty and not only at Vasco-da-Gama, because the illegal purse seine fishing takes place mostly at Siridao/Dona Paula bay area."

In view of continues non-implinentation we shall be constrained to file Contempt of Court petition against your office for non-implinentation of the above directions and all other directions contained in the mentioned court ruling where in your assurance is recorded in the last para of the order as "the minutes of the meeting dated 01.03.2024, which learned Additional Government Advocate assured that the same would be scrupulously followed and in view of the positive standof the respondents that they will act on the suggestions made by the petitioners as recorded in order, accepting such assurance which the respondents shall follow in letter and spirit, the petition is disposed of."

Kindly accept this as an advance notice of our intention to go for Contempt of Court proceedings in near future against your office due to failure to impliment High Court directions.

Further in the above context we request you to demarcate Specified area along Goa's entire coastline and keep us continuesly updated on steps initiated.

Thanking you.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello 

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Request for appointment with Director of Fisheries

03 October 2025

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Request for appointment with Director of Fisheries 

Madam,

We seek your urgent attention to the fact that from 15 September 2025 till 01 October 2025 there has been daily illegal fishing through trawling and purse seine at Zuari river mouth that begins around 8.00 pm and ends at around 3.00 am. Often fishing vessels switch off the navigation lights during such night operations.

There are enough laws and Court directions that we have brought to your attention in our previous communications. We are surprises to know that inspite of such communications to you earlier illegal mechanised fishing within specified area has only flourished instead of it being stopped and culprits booked.

We call upon Director of Fisheries to: 

(1) Give appointment to meet you to sort out the above matter and intimate us with dare and time. 

(2) Urgently convene joint meeting with Captain of Ports and Superitendent of Police (Coastal Security) along with All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) to solve this problem.

Awaiting your quick action. 

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello 

(President)

Laximan Mangueshkar

(Secretary)

Comprehending destardly attack on Rama Kankonkar at Caranzalem

This is a night transitioning from 18th September to 19th September 2025. This is a night with sleep far at bay. Got to know Rama Kankonkar got hammered by half a dozen goons in Caranzalem. Got to know that this happened just before noon around 11.30 am. Videos are out in media. Fearless half dozen men attacked Rama, injured his body. Intention looked to be to kill him. Crime was open and bold. In full view of camera recording.

It looks planned, well organised to execute to perfection. 

From the utterance of assailants it appears that some corridors of power have reached desperation. They are not able to resolve the conflicting issues in civilized negotiatonf manner and resorted to barbaric conduct inflicting pain, fear and damage to public morale.

Worst thing to know is that the assailants are reportedly history sheeter team who are involved in earlier attacks on Rama Kankonkar few months ago in Bambolim. 

It has not faded from public memory that Rama's car was set ablaze by people yet to be identified few years ago at his residence in Curca.

Crime spree touched new high. It can happen only with expressed authority from corridors of power. 

Many criminal aspects of Goa's life are legally protected. Gambling is protected through permissions to operate casinos in water and on land. Land occupation on comunidade land are legalized through Legislative intervention in the State Assembly. Mining loot have been condoned off. Shah commision report pushed in cold storage to allow Mining companies to go scot-free. Goa's coast is brutalized, ecology damaged, beaches dugged up by vested interests threatening coastal ecological security. All this leads to further blossoming of crimes in Goa.

Rama's style of operation and brand of his politics of late is directed towards creating defenders for Goa. He terms them as "Rakhandars". It is this very idea that he shared with me few days ago to materialize with a function on 28 September 2025. I wasn't able to reach put to him due the shocking death of Adv. Bishwa Ranjan Paramguru under suspicious conditions on the streets of Bhubaneshawar on 10th September 2025.

Attack on Rama comes as addition to the shock that I am already into.

We need to carefully dissect the situation as to what provoked this level of violence against Kankonkar, who masterminded the violence, what is the desired goal of such raw violence. What is the role of organised gangs into this?

Goa has come under siege. Local people of Goa have been taken over hostages of destructive powers ruling over Goa and their brand of development. 

These strangleholds must be dislodged and shattered. Amongst others Goa is on crossroads - it can move on with local people as captives or as subjects of history taking responsibility for our lives, our society, our polity, our history, our Geography and our destiny itself. All this calls for initiating authentic communication with oppressed people of Goa and not just superficial manipulative involvement for short term political involvement.

It would be interesting to pursue in this direction as society, as active citizenry even as Rama Kankonkar gets space to heal and bounce back in action in days to come.

Dr. Sebastian Rodrigues

Sinquerim Tourism PNJ - Fishing Conflicts, blame it on Jealousy?

Reflections on assertions and claims of Calangute Police Inspector Paresh Naik

Its sounds bizzare but true, Calangute Police Inspector Paresh Naik believes that the root cause of entire Sinquerim tourism PNJ conflicts is a jealousy, that some people operating PNJ boats in Sinquerim river are making more money than others. He made his conclusion public during meeting on 16.08.2025 afternoon with fishers and PNJ tourism boat operators in his cabin in presence of specially invited Police Inspector, Coastal Security Police Station in Ribandar who did not disclose his name.

PI Paresh Naik also believes that letter dated 18.06.2025 issued by Director of Fisheries to the Director of Fisheries forbidding operation of Water Sports and PNJ Tourism boats from 01 June to 31 August every year is useless. According to him that letter would have become useful it it was published in official gazette. Calangute Police Inspector said he wants direct directions from the Director of Fisheries to stop Tourism boats from operating in Sinquerim river. Calangute Police Inspector opined that Director of Tourism need not honor letter from Director of Fisheries. The intriguing part of the conversation is that PI Naik resorted to use of unparliamentary language to express himself in front of people in his cabin that included women fishers.

Calangute Police Inspector with his sweeping analysis also claimed that he has checked documents of PNJ boat operators and found that they have permissions from central government. According to him central government permissions supercedes State Fisheries Department directions to stop operation of Tourism PNJ Boats. Police Inspector also claimed that he is from Nerul village close by to the controversy and is well versed with the issue.

There are few things which Police Inspector Paresh Naik needs be more alert about and shouldn't get swayed by vested interests best interest of Public.

1. That the controversy between fishers and PNJ boat operators on sharing of river water space is not within his jurisdiction to decide upon which he knows very well. Instead of taking partisan stands to support Tourism PNJ boats PI Naik should refrain from overt display of such bias and dishing out of subtle and not-so-suble warnings to Candolim fishers. Let coastal security Police handle the matter. In this sense his decision to invite Police Inspector Ribandar Coastal Security Police is well appreciated.

2. Police Inspector Paresh Naik must well revisit his claims that the root of the controversy lies in jealousy. The root of rebellion of Candolim fishers is deprivation of fishing activities in Sinquerim-Nerul River for past three years ever since Central government permitted tourism passenger boats to operate for pleasure seekers to which Calangute Police Inspector has given deaf ear for reasons best known to him. The clash therefore is between fishers in defence of their fishing spaces on one side and half a dozen people from Sinquerim pushing PNJ boats is same river waters that is used by fishers for fishing. PNJ boats are using 40 HP motors in river with depth less than two meters past three years as it is their legal requirements. Motors were replaced to 9.9 HP overnight on 18.06.2025 without any legal notification to do so by Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues. In this sense fisherman J.G.D.Fernandes claimed that Captain of Ports has taken law in his hands, and subsequently, logically Police needs to arrest him.

3. Police Inspector Paresh Naik has put out his tall claim that Central Government permissions to Tourism PNJ boats supercedes Goa State Fisheries Directives to ban PNJ tourism boats in Sinquerim river. Now this is very dangerous colonial situation. It means tomorrow Central government can give permissions to operate PNJ Tourism boats in any river in Goa without consulting local fisherman and even State Fisheries department and go about disrupting fishing activities. And State Fisheries Department has no right to object. Police Inspector Paresh Naik must also re-visit his position here. It is the Constitution of India which is Central government document being passed by Indian Parliament has authorised that States conduct of Fisheries within territorial waters via entry 21 of State List under Article 246. State Fisheries department has full rights to decide on State Fisheries and Central Government has bussiness to mess around State Fisheries by allowing Tourism PNJ boats in fishing spaces. This is indeed ridiculous position held out by Police Inspector Paresh Naik that needs not just re-visit but reversal. His decision support to Tourism boats PNJ is wrong and will have negative unpredictable public consequences.

4. Duty of Police, Captain of Ports, Director of Tourism was to stop PNJ boat operators after 18.06.2025 letter banning Tourism PNJ boats every year from operating three months of June, July and August when fishing is sole livelihood option for fishers of Candolim. All the authorities has failed. And what the two Police Inspectors hinted at subtlety yesterday at Calangute Police Station was to push fishers into silence. This is indeed unfortunate situation unfolding for reasons not too difficult to guess. This situation will change as Fishers assert and organise themselves in Unity and Solidarity in times to come.

Yesterday at the Calangute Police Station fishers asserted that they cannot give guarantee of Peace at the Jetty unless there is Justice to Fishers, No more obstructing obstruction to fishing, no more obstruction to fishing boats at Jetty, No more insensitive Police attitude towards fishers.

Yesterday 16.16.08.2025 evening at around 7.00 pm when fishers visited Sinquerim Jetty illegality of PNJ boats was in full flow. PNJ boats which were supposed stop their boats at 5.30 pm went on till 7.30 pm. Coastal Security Police Inspector simply did not answer calls of Candolim fishers. Indeed very pathetic State of affairs currently.

Police Inspector Paresh Naik had spoken differently on 08.08.2025 during similar meeting in his cabin without Police Inspector, Coastal Security, Ribandar. That day he said Publicly "I will support traditional fishermen. Public Support is with them". Lots of waters have flown in Sinquerim river and with that flew words of PI's words of support to Fishers in Sinquerim river. At least his words are stuck in memory and soon to be history, yet not forgotten. 

It is true that fishers have public support and this blogpost is evidence of such public support. 

Police call to Candolim Fishers

Fishing canoe suffered damage due to repeated dashing by PNJ tourism boats at Sinquerim Jetty

On 16 August 2025 at 12.00 noon J.G.D. Fernandes Fisherman from Candolim is again asked over the phone to report to Calangute Police Station.

There are conflicting interests between the fishers and tourism PNJ boat operators in Sinquerim river. Fishing Jetty that is de facto taken over by tourism boat operators.

Tourism PNJ boats are parked in the river creating enormous obstacles to fishing activities.

PNJ boats carry on passenger pleasure trips inside the Sinquerim river thereby jeopardizing fishing in the river.

At the Sinquerim Jetty PNJ boats bang and dash against fishing boats causing damage and even capsize of fishing canoes. Jetty is crowded with Tourism PNJ boats making it impossible for fishers to operate their canoes from the Sinquerim Jetty.

Fishers have been complaining to the authorities over the past three months. In response Director of Fisheries issued letter dated 18.06.2025 to the Director of Tourism with copy to Captain of Ports directing to stop movement of Tourism PNJ boats from operating in Sinquerim river from 01 June to 31 August every year.

Inspite of this directive neither the Tourism department nor the Captain of Ports has taken any steps to get the Tourism PNJ boats off river till 31 August. 

Fisheries within 12 nautical miles is a State subject with entry number 21 under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution. Directions of the Director of Fisheries to stop Tourism PJN from operations cannot be over ruled by tourism department and Captain of Ports. Both these departments are working against fishers interests in Sinquerim river thereby insulting the Fishers of Candolim.

Question before all of us is: should Tourism be allowed to ruin Goa's traditional occupations like fishing? This is exactly the controversy in Sinquerim river currently and answer is still eluding.

Kindly call up Calangute Police Station on the landline number 0832 227 8284 and demand an update on the situation. We have received information that Coastal Security Police is going to visit Calangute Police Station for a meeting with Candolim fishers on 16.08.2025.

In the meantime J.G.D. Fernandes, fisherman received phone calls on 14th and 15th August 2025 from calangute police asking him to get his canoes out of Sinquerim river. Fernandes has refused to do so. We will know as to how things are unfolding by late afternoon on 16.08.2025. Stay connected.

 

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.

Springtime of Arrests in Goa

Goa seems to have entered into spring season of arrests of those who express political dissent. Past few days have shown the glimpses of onset of emergency in Goa where Fundamental Rights are placed in suspension if not abrogated outright.

We have witnessed arrests of three lead political dissenters of Goa Adv.Pratima Coutinho, Sanjay Barde and Rama Kankonkar. The tyrannical state though is political, it's motives are econnomic terrorism, intention is psychological warfare.

Goa is headed straight into cesspool of diversity of stinking corruption both moral and economic, executed with brute accuracy by its politicians and their kin and kith.

In the process the stakes are huge. The battle for land is at hand. Battle for language in whatever script can be futile if it's not rooted in battle for land.

Filing of frivolous cases against Rama Kankonkar also attracts provisions section 3 of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, one of the least applied laws in Goa.

Long time ago there was regime in India that believed that Sun never sets on its rule. The rulers went on arresting those dissenting. One man that regime arrested multiple times. His name is M.K.Gandhi. Multiple arrests made him even greater than the greats, Mahatma. Goa Government has just embarked on innings to elevate few amongst the Commons to that status step by step. Arrests are magnificent propellers for greatness for the one in whose chest burns flame of freedom and love for Justice.  No Police arrests can doze off kindred spirit. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for the cause of freedom from apartheid policies in South Africa.

Bharat Mukti Morcha call upon Goa Government to stop police repression on those expressing dissent in the interests of Political sanity if any.

Repression on People can have unpredictable impacts considering the glimpses of evidence of law and order on Goa has gone for a mighty toss with people issuing threats to bury elected representative alive in Sancoale. Implication of such statements are severe with democracy and Constitution of India being the presitine casualties.

For Goa these spring time of arrests is yet another consequence being annexed through conquest in 1961. These cannot be fruits of Liberation. Wither Liberation? Truly, still Lambert Mascarenhas is valid: sorrowing lies my land.

Bharat Mukti Morcha express support and Solidarity with all the people actively pursuing cause of Justice in various forms in Goa against all kinds of vested interests.

Bharat Mukti Morcha call for quashing of criminal cases against Rama Kankonkar with immediate effect and he be set free from Police custody.

S.A.Rodrigues
Convenor
Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Goa State

High Alert! Oncoming Police repression on People of Bicholim Taluka over mining

Today 10 December 2024 observed as International Human Rights Day. There is however very disturbing piece of information that has come in today; Goa's Sawant Government is all set to unleash police terror to resume iron transportation to benefit London based Vedanta corporate currently in the middle of plunder of Goa's minerals in Bicholim Taluka.

Corporate hasn't been able to carry its plunderous trade over Goa's iron ore due to iron willed determination of Pilgao villagers who raised red flag over ore transportation from their paddy fields and blocked road for past 25 days.

Few days ago Pilgao farmers were called for discussion to resolve this issue at Sankhelim Ravindra Bhavan. Over there Chief Minister Sawant threatened the farmers of arrests in case they continue to resist mining transportation from their paddy fields in Pilgao. Farmers wanted all the mining silt dumped in their paddy fields by mining companies at Pilgao to be cleared out so that cultivation of paddy etc can resume and food security restored. However Chief Minister Sawant was at his arrogant best and declared that he will get police to act repressive against agitating farmers.

According to the sources police repression on people of Pilgao is likely to resume from 11 December 2024. 

Bharat Mukti Morcha therefore calls upon everyone concern to be on high alert and monitor situation unfolding in Pilgao, and be prepared to respond in emergency of lathi charge and other repressive measures.

Terms of Reference of EIA clearly directs project proponent against the use of Public road for the transportation of Iron ore. Vedanta sleathly was allowed to breach this clause in January 2024 Environmental clearance and use of 900 meters of Public road was allowed. Now Vedanta Limited is pouncing on stretch of 2.5 kms of Public road connecting Bicholim town to Sarmanas Jetty. This is unacceptable. Risks multiplies for all the commuters on public road.

This situation is clearly violation of Environmental Clearance (EC) for Bicholim Mineral Block I, and if MOEF & CC fails to cancel this EC then it be held responsible for unleasing law and order situation in Goa.

It is normal to question: was this is the reason why India annexed Goa through conquest armed with Soviet Veto in 1961?

In response to call letter from Harbour Police Station in mechanised fishing matter

01 March 2024

To,

Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject : Call letter dated 28/02/2024 from Pradip R. Velip, Police Inspector, Harbour Coastal Security Police Station in connection with Writ Petition no. 2844 of 2023 at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court

Sir/Madam,

We are in receipt of yet another call letter from Harbour Coastal Security Police Station in connection with our complaints on illegal trawling and purse seine fishing in Zuari river dated 01/02/2024 and 22/02/2024, both addressed to your office along with evidence of violation of Goa Bench of Bombay High Court Order dated 09/01/2024 in Writ Petition no. 2844 of 2023 which we have already inwarded to your office on 27/02/2024.

This to place on record that in response to earlier call letter dated 22/02/2024 from Rohidas K.Velip, PSI on the same matter we visited Harbour Coastal Security Police Station on 26/02/2024. During our time at the Police station we were shown documents containing internal notings by the Office of Superitendent of Police on our complaint dated 01/02/2024 directing Harbour Coastal Security Police Station to call meeting of both the Parties. 

Now we find this direction from the office of Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security extremely objectionable in the light of following context:

1. It is legal duty of the office of Director of Fisheries as well as Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security to prevent mechanised fishing within 5 kms from the shore as the the prevalent law in force.

2. There is standing order of the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court dated 09 January 2024 in Writ Petition no. 2844 of 2023  that has specifically alerted both Director of Fisheries as well as Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security against allowing any mechanised fishing within 5 kms specified area as per the law.

3. Inspite of the High Court Order mentioned at point no.2  both Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security as well as Director of Fisheries allowed massive mechanised fishing inside Zuari river to go on during mid-night on 31/01/2024. The digital evidence of the same with GPS locations of the venue of mechanised fishing within specified area is already inwarded to your office via our letter dated 22/02/2024 in pendrive. 

4. Following from above point nos 1, 2, & 3 all the details of the violations of High Order dated 09 January 2024 is communicated to your office in completion. All that your office has to do is initiate action and submit your compliance report to the Hon'ble Goa Bench of Bombay High Court. 

5. Hence the directions of Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security given via internal notings on our complaint dated 01/02/2024 to call for meeting of both the parties at Harbour Coastal Security Police Station is wrong and needs to be withdrawn immidiately as it is in violation of law in force and we shall be constrained to report to the Hon'able High Court the conduct of the office of Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security.

6. As the current matter in sub-judice state due to litigation at High Court via mentioned Writ Petition we will not be attending any meetings with those involved in mechanised fishing within specified area of 5 kms as there is nothing to be negotiated at all. So in this context kindly issue necessary directions to the Police Inspector, Harbour Coastal Security Police Station and keep us informed.

Additionally, if there is need for the meeting with our Union to discuss policy matters relating to preventive measures needed in addition to what contains already in our petition then let it be convened through proper protocols through the office of Advocate General to the Government of Goa involving also Director of Fisheries, Superitendent of Fisheries, Captain of Ports etc, and we will participate.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to

Chief Justice,

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Porvorim, Goa

Police Inspector, 

Harbour Coastal Security Police Station

Reply to police call letter on sub judice matter

26 February 2024

To,

The Police Inspector,

Coastal Security Police Station,

Harbour, Vasco, Goa

Subject: Call letter dated dated 22/2/2024 from Rohidas K. Velip PSI, Coastal Security Police Station, Harbour, Vasco

Sir,

Please take note of paragraph 07 of the attached Order dated 9th January 2024 of the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in Writ Petition no.2844 in connection with your call letter addressed to the President, All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union as under:

"In the meantime, we direct the prohibition as emanating from the notification issued by the State Government in respect of the use of mechanised vehicles which be strictly ensured by the authorised officer and other authorities concerned failing which the Court may be constrained to initiate appropriate action against those responsible for unabated mechanised fishing despite prohibition."

Kindly take note of the above contents in the inquiry proceedings.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President, AGSSRFU 

Laxman Mangueshkar 

Sectetary, AGSSRFU

Copy to

Chief Justice, Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Porvorim, Goa

Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security, Panaji, Goa

Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

Digital evidence on illegal mechanised fishing in zuari river

 22 February 2024

To,

Superitendent of Police, 

Coastal Security

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Digital evidence of illegal fishing in Zuari river in reference to our complaint dated 01/02/2024 to your office with regard to writ petition 2844 of 2023 before Goa Bench of Hon'able Bombay High Court 

Sir/Madam,

Please pendrive containing digital evidence illegal fishing in Zuari River for the purpose of prosecution and action against those trawlers and purse seine boats caught on GPS camera. 

From 20 February 2024 to 21 February 2024 some members of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) has received phone calls from someone claiming to be policeman attached to Coastal Security Police Station, Harbour, Vasco using mobile phone number 9922976943. Caller has been inviting our Union leadership to strike a compromise on illegal mechanised fishing at River Zuari.

We strongly condemn such invitation from this caller for compromise in illegal fishing in Zuari river and request your attention to the following issues:

1. Who authorised caller to give phone calls to AGSSRFU members to compromise on illegal mechanised fishing?

2. AGSSRFU if required to be present at police station, concerned officials of Coastal Police station must share call letter inviting for the meeting along with the purpose of such meeting with us.

Kindly note once again that we stand to co-operate fully with coastal security police to nab the illegal trawlers and purse seiners provided police follow proper procedure by inviting our Union with call letter.

Kindly also note that we will not tolerate any undue pressure from police to compromise with those committing crimes of illegal fishing through trawling and purse seine in Zuari river as this matter is sub-judice before Goa Bench of Bombay High Court via Writ petition no. 2844 of 2023 and we will report pressure on us to compromise to the Hon'able Court.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Copy to 

1. Police Inspector, Coastal Security Police Station, Harbour, Vasco, Goa

2. Deputy Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security, Ribandar, Goa

Call to release all those detained due to mining protests in Mayem

 Action Alert

Call to release all those detained due to mining protests in Mayem, Bicholim, Goa

According to the confirmed information six people are illegally detained at the Bicholim Police station without any charges in them. They were arrested today 13 January morning at 10.30 am while protesting illegal transportation ore from their village of Mayem from Chowgule mine at Paira, Mayem.

Those amongst six includes Babuso Karbotkat, Santosh Sawant, Santosh Malvankar, Ajit Sawant, Apa Salgaonkar, Naguesh Naik.

Iron ore is being transported by contactor Dinesh Gauns through the village road in Mayem and is objected by villagers. 

It is also alleged by the villagers that Goa Chief Minister is directly involved in abuse of police force in his capacity as Home Minister for some petty selfish gains and detriment of the Public Interest. It is not know as to how much of 35,000 crores of mining scam has reached Goa Chief Minister as evidently he is silent on recovery of this amount.

Please call up Bicholim Police Station at numbers below and demand immediate release of all those detained at the Bicholim Police Station.

Phone: 0832 2362233

Bicholim Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar mobile 7875756033

Goa has enough of mining loot, let's not tolerate it any further. Let's stop abuse of Police as private security of mining companies and mining contractors any more!

Goa Fishing to be shut down for the sake of National Games?

According to the received reports at 11.40 am today 17 October 2023 State Government through Captain of Ports is attempting to shut down fishing activities in Arabian Sea being operated by traditional gillnet fishermen from Vaiginim beach where Taj operated Cidade de Goa five star hotel is located.

National Games in Goa are to begin shortly and to last for 20 days  and if the plans of State Government materializes then fishermen and our families will be rendered with snatched livelihoods for 20 days or may be even forever should Tatas conquer Vaiginim Beach.

What is even more scary is that office of Captain of Ports is asking the fishermen to clean up the beach of canoes. This is indeed nightmarish situation. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries strongly condemns attempts to shut down fishing activities of small scale fishers of Arabian Sea and Zuari river and calls upon Goa Government to refrain from embarking on such suicidal adventure. 

Earlier during G-20 meeting similar attempt to clear the beach of fishing canoes was made directly by Taj administered Cidade de Goa few months ago. Fishermen had strongly resisted these moves of Tatas that time and carried in their fishing activities with normal course.

The memories of attacks on fishermen in Morjim beach through demolitions and Cacra Beach through mischievous fires during past few months are fresh and the All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union condemns clandastine ant-fisher policies being manifested through Captain of Ports and other State agencies.

Similarly Kalinganagar massacre by Tatas against mylnivasi people has dark presence in Indian History. It's best that Tata avoid playing around lives and livelihoods of FIshing communities in Goa.

Also read  https://thewire.in/labour/goas-fishermen-protest-fishing-ban-imposed-during-national-games

Also read an Article by Amita Kanekar below

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/No-Coast-for-Fisherfolk/213449