Honnavar: In a dramatic turn of events, hundreds of fishermen fiercely opposed the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) survey on Wednesday, staging a protest as a central CRZ team initiated the survey in the Tonka area of the Kasarakod commercial port in the taluk.

Bhatkal sub-division Assistant Commissioner Dr. Naina, under whose supervision the survey was to be conducted, reached Tonka and attempted to persuade the fishermen. The tense situation prompted Honnavar CPI Santosh Kaikini to deploy heavy police presence. Uttara Kannada Additional SP CT Jaykumar and Bhatkal sub-division DySP K Srikanth also arrived at the scene in response to the situation.

AC Dr. Naina assured the protesters that the survey would not harm the fishermen and urged them to allow the officers to complete the process. Ganapati Tandel, a leader among the fishermen, requested the AC to provide a copy of the official order and other necessary documents for conducting the survey. Another leader, Raju Tandel, emphasized the fishermen's historical connection to the area and urged the government to recognize their existence and survival. He recalled previous instances where officials had come for surveys, leading to arrests during road construction.

Despite AC Dr. Naina's attempts to address their concerns, the fishermen remained dissatisfied, questioning why the survey was specific to their location and expressing suspicion about its motives—whether in favor of the port company or a government directive. The verbal altercations escalated, leading to mild lathi charge intervention by the police, bringing the situation under control. The survey work then commenced in the proposed commercial port area at Kasarkod Tonka.

During the clash between the police and fishermen, attempts to detain protesters resulted in a tug-of-war, leading to injuries on both sides. Some injured fishermen and fisherwomen, along with police personnel, were hospitalized.  Furthermore, eighteen protesters were taken into custody and subsequently transferred to Karwar Jail.

Despite strong opposition and slogans, the survey continued under strict police arrangements, focusing on identifying the high tide line. Rajesh Tandel, a protesting fisherman, accused the officers of siding with the port company and pledged to continue the protest. He claimed that over ten fishermen were injured in the lathi charge, some hospitalized.

ہوناور کے کاسرکوڈ ۔ٹونکا میں سمندری کنارے سروے -ماہی گیروں نے کی سروے کی سخت مخالفت؛ افسران کے ساتھ ہوا تصادم؛ ہلکی لاٹھی چارج

A police officer clarified that attempts were made to conduct the survey peacefully, but resistance forced them to proceed with police arrangements. He dispelled rumors of a lathi charge, confirming the detention of individuals opposing the survey and injuries sustained by police officials, who were undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Bhatkal AC Dr. Naina explained that the central CRZ team had come to Tonka to survey the seashore and mark up to fifty meters from the high tide line. Despite fishermen's opposition, the marking work had commenced and would continue.

In response to the survey, enraged fishermen reached the residence of District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya in Murdeshwar at 7 pm, staging a two-hour dharna. They demanded the cessation of survey work, the release of protestors, and withdrawal of cases. However, Minister Mankal Vaidya had departed for Bangalore approximately two to three hours before their arrival.