the goan I network
CANACONA
Hundreds of people from neighbouring Karnataka agitated at the Majali check post on Saturday, to protest against the fish transportation restrictions to Goa.
The agitators, many consisting of fish agents and traders from Bhatkal, Honnavar and fisherfolk from Karwar district shouted slogans against the Goa government’s ban on transportation of fish from Karnataka to Goa and threatened further steps if the ban was not lifted within the next eight days.
The agitators erected a pandal near Majali checkpost on the Karnataka side and convened a brief meeting with some fish agents from Bhatkal.
Chanting slogans in Kannada, Hindi and partly in Konkani against the Goa government, the speakers who addressed a gathering denounced the fish transportation ban from Karnataka to Goa as illogical and uncalled, adding that it was against the free trade of goods within the country.
The agitators demanded that the ban be lifted within eight days, failing which they would initiate further action.
The agitators than began to march towards Goa border and virtually blocked the traffic for well over 15 minutes along the national highway NH-66 between Polem check post (Goa) and the Majali check post (Karnataka).
The protestors were, however, stopped a few metres before reaching the Goa border check post by Karnataka police, who sternly told the protestors that they would not be allowed to cross the border.
A strong police force drawn from Canacona police station and South Goa police Reserve, led by Canacona PI Rajendra Prabhudesai and PSI Prashal Dessai, were stationed at the Polem check post to maintain law and order on Goa’s side of the border.
The agitators later dispersed from the site.
