The Goa Fishing Boat Owners’ Association (GFBOA) on Monday filed a police complaint at Mormugao Police Station against six fishermen from Cutbona for allegedly damaging two trawlers of its members and for kidnapping 17 crew members while fishing into the Arabian Sea on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after filing the complaint, the Khariwado-based Association has threatened of a similar action against Cutbona fishermen. Cutbona fishermen have no right for such action. If bull trawling is illegal then action needs to be taken by Fisheries Department, GFBOA president Augusto Fernandes said. Two trawlers — Divine Star’ and Milagres Saibin’ owned by Vasco-based owners – Edmond and Gaspar, had ventured into the Arabian Sea from Khariwado jetty on Sunday morning, however, some trawlers moved towards them and started abusing the crew members. They then boarded the two Vasco-based trawlers and threatened the workers of dire consequences. They pelted stones on the fishing trawlers, thereby damaging the window panes. Besides the fish catch worth Rs one lakh in each trawler too was destroyed, he said.NCP president Jose Philip D’Souza, who is also a trawler owner, was present at Mormugao police station to file a complaint against six Cutbona fishermen – Savio Silva, Pundalik Kerkar, Leslie Cardozo, Kristal Silva, Ajit Chodankar and Vinay Tari. Condemning the act of the Cutbona fishermen, he said, The move of targeting GFBOA members’ trawlers is totally illegal. The way they hijacked GFBOA members’ trawlers would lead to law and order situation among fishermen. It is fisheries department that should have taken action and not the Cutbona fishermen, we have registered a complaint against six fishermen and we demand police action, failing which the GFBOA would be left with no option but to agitate, he warned. Meanwhile, Mormugao PI Kapil Naik informed on receiving the complaint from GFBOA and that he would investigate into it and take necessary action.
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