Paradip: The Marine Boat Owners’ Associations of Balasore and Paradip, who had gheroed the Coast Guard office here following the death of a fisherman in firing, withdrew their agitation after officials assured adequate compensation and other benefits to the family of the deceased.
Mayadhar Mallick, 50, a fisherman of Naranapur village under Simulia police limits in Balasore district, was allegedly shot dead in a firing by Coast Guard personnel off Paradip coast, Friday night.
Talking to the media, president of the Balasore Marine Boat Owners’ Association Badal Das said the Coast Guard authorities assured a job to the son of the deceased after he attains the age of 18. Besides, they also promised adequate compensation to the bereaved family.
“Apart from this, the Coast Guard officials also promised to take action against the personnel responsible for firing at the fishing trawler resulting in the death of Mallick,” Das added.
According to DIG, Coast Guard (Paradip), Rajesh Makwana, the Coast Guard had stepped up patrolling to protect the endangered Olive Ridley marine turtles and to enforce the ban on fishing in the no-fishing zone of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (GMS) under operation Olivia at around 9.20 pm.
Meanwhile, the personnel spotted Mallick and eight other crew members fishing illegally in the GMS area.
On seeing the ICG ship, the trawler attempted to flee and the ICG ship tried to stop it by using hailers and sending messages through VHF sets. However, the trawler did not stop and in order to escape it to escape evasive manoeuvres and rammed into the ICG ship. The ICG then fired warning shots in the air and across the bow of the trawler that struck Mallick.
Later, the personnel rescued the injured fisherman and rushed him to Paradip Port hospital where he was declared dead. The personnel arrested the other eight fishermen and seized 20 quintals of fish, 11 fishing nets, two VHF sets, a GPS and a fish finder.
Meanwhile, a board of enquiry has been ordered into the incident, the DIG of Coast Guard Orissa said. The Marine Police have been directed to hold an inquiry into the matter and register a case, Kendrapara SP, Niti Sekhar said.
PNN