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Reprehensible

The force unleashed by the police against the protesting fisherfolk of Gangavaram village, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of a fisherman is reprehensible. It was only natural for the fisherfolk to have been peeved over the construction of a private port, which they feared would affect their livelihood. The incident has highlighted the need for a consultative mechanism to provide a platform to all stakeholders to air their views.

M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan, T.N.

The report that a woman who gave birth to a child just four days earlier was critically injured in the police action is shocking. The administration is squarely to blame for failing to defuse the tension.

Had the Andhra Pradesh Government announced adequate relief and rehabilitation to the poor fisherfolk, the unfortunate incident would not have taken place.

M. Nazeeruddin,
Kurnool, A.P.

For the fisherfolk of Gangavaram, it was livelihood that was at stake. When elected governments and the bureaucracy do not engage the affected in a dialogue to reach a consensus over relief and rehabilitation, what options are left for those already living on the margins? The brutal suppression of their right to protest is an utter disgrace to society.

Anu Rajesh,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

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