It is police brutality, say fisherfolk
Residents of Nadukuppam, a fishing colony near Marina beach which was close to the jallikattu protest venue, alleged that police forcibly entered their houses and lathi-charged everyone including those administering first aid to the injured protesters, besides setting the entire fish market on fire.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-01-24 19:45 GMT
Chennai
According to the residents, the problem started around 10 am on Monday, when a few protesters from the beach ran into their village seeking refuge from the police who were chasing them. “The protesters came running and we gave them water and administered first-aid as they were bleeding. Angered by this, the police spoke rudely to us before forcibly entering our houses and beat us. It was only after fisherfolk from nearby villagers stepped in that the police backed off,” one of the residents alleged. Sharmili S, another resident said there was a repeat of police brutality around 1 pm.
“The protesters ran into our village again. This time, the police started entering our houses under the pretext of searching for protesters. They attacked the men from our hamlet, who weren’t part of the protest at all. Some women too sustained injuries to their legs in the police attack. Then, cops threw tear gas at us and set the fish market, our main source of livelihood, on fire. Two autorickshaws were also damaged. There is no safety for us,” said the 24-year-old, pursuing a course to become a kindergarten teacher.
A fact-finding team assessed the situation on Tuesday morning. Chandrika Radhakrishnan, a member of Thozhilalar Koodam, said most of the fisherwomen have sustained a loss between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000. “When the fish market was destroyed, the folks lost property – makeshift shelters from where they used to sell their catch to expensive seafood items kept for sale. Their livelihood has been destroyed. People in the community are upset that the police, who are supposed to protect them, indulged in violence,” she said, and added that a detailed impact assessment was being conducted.
Meanwhile, the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) condemned the police action. It also demanded an independent enquiry into the incidents that took place in the fishing villages near Marina.
Curfew-like situation in Triplicane: Residents
While the rest of the areas are back to normal after incidents of violence that brought the city to a standstill, residents of Triplicane still express apprehensions about their safety.
A woman showing stones that were hurled at her house
The area is barricaded and the police is questioning everyone passing through the roads that leads to the beach. “It’s like a curfew here. We have to stay inside the house after the worst day on Monday,” says Manoj K, a resident of Triplicane. R Chandran, a resident of Dr Besant Road, who works in the film industry, says he was beaten up by the cops for no fault of his.
“While chasing the miscreants, many onlookers also became victims of the police excess. On Tuesday morning, the cops picked up several residents for questioning. Though they are back home now, it triggered panic among several families. In fact, I took refuge in my friend’s house to escape the police action on Tuesday.” Parents did not send their children to school. “We are scared to even step out of the house. I have not sent my kids to school, which is on Anna Salai, because we don’t know what will happen next. Around noon, only shops selling essentials opened in the area,” said D Sarla, a home-maker.
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