Saturday, January 29, 2011

Firearms licence: TN fishermen approach DGP office

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/firearms-licence-fishermen-approach-dgp-office/243261.html

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on January 29,2011:
CHENNAI: A group of fishermen representing different traditional fishing associations in the State on Friday met senior police officials at the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a memorandum seeking firearms licence for selfdefence in high seas.

While the DGP Letika Saran was not available due to her prior engagement, they met the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) K Radhakrishnan and handed over the memorandum detailing why the State's fishermen were seeking gun licence.
Speaking to Express, K Bharathi, president of South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association (SIFWA), said, "Along with a group of fishermen, we met the top police official and apprised him of the mental agony faced by traditional fishermen in the wake of the recent murders of TN fishermen by Lankan Navy despite the end of ethnic conflict two years ago."
''The official acknowledged our point on why fishermen came to the conclusion of carrying an arm while fishing midsea for selfprotection and he assured of positive action on the memorandum from the State government soon," Bharathi added.
J Kosumani, president of Tamil Nadu Meenavar Makkal Peravai, and Mathiyalagan, president of Coastal Fishermen Protection Movement, accompanied him to the DGP office.
CAMPAIGN FOR GUN LICENCE: To root out the misconception among traditional fishermen on carrying a licensed gun for selfprotection, which they feel was against law, SIFWA has planned for a massive campaign among the fishermen from February 5 at all 13 coastal districts.
Bharathi, president of SIFWA, said,"Since the traditional fishermen feel carrying a gun is against law, we have planned a hamletlevel campaign to educate them."

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