Missing fishermen case: Attempts to locate made using scientific, religious methods

Malpe: Two police teams under the leadership of Udupi police have trying to locate the missing deep sea trawler along with its crew of 7 fishermen, with assistance from the local fishermen and police at Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and also along the borders of Goa. But till now no information has come, informed Satish Kunder, president of the fishermen’s association.

Based on the information given by fishermen that on Dec 15^th, the boat might have met with an accident with a ship at Sindhudurg Malwan in Maharashtra and that messages in this connection were heard by the fishermen there, Udupi SP Laxman Nimbaragi has requested the SP of Maharashtra to gather information on ships that might have travelled along that route so that the information given by the fishermen can be corroborated. Clear information in regard to this will be available in a couple of days, inform sources.

Pooja at Malti Island

The fishermen here are carrying on with their religious attempts to locate the missing fishermen. A special pooja was conducted at Malti Island close to Malpe fisheries port to appease Malti goddess there.

Boats are venturing out into the sea

The deep sea trawlers which remained anchored at the port since the last 15 days are now venturing out into the sea, phase by phase and by Friday night, about 5% of the boats from the port had already left for fishing. On Saturday night, 20% of the boats had ventured out for fishing. 26 people have been appointed from various fishermen organisations to keep an eye on the proceedings on the locating of the missing fishermen and they will be acting so until the finding of the missing fishermen.

“The district in-charge minister Dr Jayamala has been contacted and asked to give information in connection to the state government requesting assistance from ISRO in finding the missing boat using satellites. There is no clear information on if the government has contacted ISRO or not. The minister has assured that she will be discussing the issue with the home minister M B Patil,” said Satish Kunder, president of Malpe Fishermen’s Association