Vizhinjam protest: Port will be besieged via land and sea routes, more than 100 boats and 300 autos to be lined up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fishermen are gearing up to intensify the Vizhinjam protests. As part of this, they are planning to surround the port via sea route on Monday. In addition, the port will be besieged via land routes too. The new methods of strike are being brought in after a week into the protests.

The port will be surrounded by the protesters under the leadership of Poonthura parish. Around hundreds of boats will be lined up as part of the protests. The port will be blockaded under the leadership of Cheriyathura, St. Xavier's and Cheruvettukad parishes. Around 300 auto rickshaws, more than 60 buses and other protesters from Poonthura will take part in the strike.

The protestors are mainly putting forward two demands of stopping the construction of the port and to conduct an impact study, and to provide kerosene at a subsidized rate. According to the fishermen, they will not turn back until the demands are met. The Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram has decided to intensify pressure on the government to fully accept the demands.

Meantime, the cabinet sub-committee will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss about the rehabilitation of fishermen.

The meeting chaired by Fisheries Minister V Abdurahiman will discuss about their rehabilitation issues. Ministers K Rajan, M V Govindan, Antony Raju and Chinchu Rani will attend the meeting.