Thoothukudi: Fishers blame fringe group for Sterlite riot

Thoothukudi: Fishermen from Therespuram in Thoothukudi have accused some advocates belonging to ‘Makkal Adhikaram’ outfit with instigating the innocent fishermen to violence during the May 22 anti-sterlite procession here which turned violent, leading to police firing.

Requesting legal aid for the fishermen falsely arrested in connection with the Thoothukudi riot and the incidents that followed, around 200 men and women from the coastal community, led by Thoothukudi country craft fishermen association, Robert, submitted a petition with the Thoothukudi district Legal Services Authority on Friday stating that the fishermen have nothing to do with the violence though some of their youths were “brainwashed” to indulge in violence by some of the advocates, alleged to have links with the ‘Makkal Adhikaram’ outfit.

The fishermen leaders, who also met the Thoothukudi Bar council president, Advocate Tilak, complained that some Bar Council members went around the coastal hamlets for about a week before the May 22 event and instigated the youths to prepare to take siege of the district collector’s office.

“They also allegedly campaigned among our people saying that the fishermen community should be ready for any kind of eventuality during the May 22 rally,” said Robert, adding, the fishermen believed that the May 22 rally would be a peaceful one like the one organised on March 24, which went off peacefully even though around two lakh people gathered.

The fishermen’s complaint even named few advocates associated with ‘Makkal Adhikaram’. But a senior advocate, who was one of the 23 members who attended the peace talks convened by the district collector prior to the incident and who also played a crucial role in the Anti-Sterlite movement, felt that the fishermen should not have made such an open complaint, as it could draw a wedge among members of the Thoothukudi Bar Association.