Udupi: Fishermen gathered outside DC Office, Manipal here and staged a protest demanding immediate release of subsidized kerosene.

Karnataka state traditional fishermen’s organization, under the leadership of Kundapur Taluk Sampradayika Nadadoni Meenugarara Okkoota staged the protest.

The state government had been distributing subsidized kerosene from September to May through fair price shops and fishing cooperative organizations for many years. But last year, it was distributed only in September and November.

The fishermen complained that they have not received any grants for the past three months.

The fishermen demanded that the government take this issue immediately and initiate measures to release grants.

After the protest, they handed over a copy of memorandum to DC Priyanka Mary Francis.

Speaking to the protesters, DC Priyanka said that she has already initiated and the issue will be sorted and decision will be made soon.

Gopal Poojary, Byndoor MLA; Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC; Somashekar Karvi, President of Okkoota; Manju Billava, Secretary of Okkoota; Madan Kumar, Honorary President; Raghupathy Bhat, former MLA; leaders Naveen Chandra, Janardhan Tingalaya, Chandrakanth Karkera, Aziz Shirur, Shahul, Devadas Karvi, Naresh Karvi, Yashpal Suvarna and others were present.