Udupi: Some Malpe fishermen in recent weeks have gone to South Maharashtra to fish in Ratnagiri sea waters only to be assaulted and looted by local fisherman there. The latest incident was on February 19.

On Wednesday morning, a protest rally was held at Malpe for Deep-Sea Boat Tandels associated members, for the atrocities committed against them by Maratha boatmen.

BJP district unit Chairman, Uday K. Shetty addressed the unhappy fisherman. He said local fisherman had only pursued their legitimate trade in another state at Ratnagiri Waters, but got brickbats and losses in return.

He strongly condemned Maratha assaults on neighbors. But the culprits must be punished, not lot off with a warning.

He would speak to CM to see and ensure that the events did not repeat despite criticism in state.

Mogaveera entrepreneur Pramod Madhwaraj, who could not get a ticket to contest Udupi-Chikkamagalur by-polls stated that the assault on local fishermen local fishermen in Maharashtra was an assault on Maple fishing community.

The earlier Devgarh incident, had recurred, he rued. He said he would speak to Oscar Fernandes to end such conflicts, on February 22 in Goa.

Complaint was heard about Coast Guard forces trying to loot Malpe fish eatch and Maratha fishermen had looted quality eatch of Malpe boatmen as if it belonged to them Gopal Kunder of Malpe Deep-sea Fishermen’s Association asserted that local fishermen never Violated fishing territory rules anywhere, but those in other states(Kerala, Tamilnadu or Maharashtra) had harassed local fishermen, latest on February 19, by taking away fish-finder, GPS, Wireless equipments and valuable sea catch from them. Several fishermen leaders were present in the rally.