THE National Fish workers Forum has urged Shipping Minister to launch legal proceedings against the owner, Captain and crew of the Panama registered cargo vessel which had hit a fishing boat off Kochi, killing two persons. In a letter to the Shipping Minister, a copy of which was released to the media here, Forum national chairperson Narendra R Patil and General Secretary T Peter also said cargo ships and foreign fishing vessels should not be allowed in Indian coastal waters.
The nationwide forum has also demanded that adequate compensation should be paid to the families of the fishermen who had lost their lives and fishing boat and implements which had suffered severe damage in the collision should be restored.
Among other demands is that the Indian Navy and Coast guard should be directed to protect fishermen who put out to sea, the forum said adding free medical aid should be provided to the injured fishermen and their loss should be compensated. The cargo vessel, Amber L, had collided with the fishing boat on June 11 at 2.30 am. While two fishermen drowned, one was missing and 11 others had been rescued.