Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Jun 20: Chaos erupted outside Bunder Old Port office here on Friday June 20 with some locals demanding the transfer of assistant port officer and others insisting that he stay.
The incident occured during the visit of minister for textiles and ports Baburao Chinchansur to the Old Port on Friday.
It is said that the assistant port officer, Niranjan Murthy, has been holding the post for the last 29 years, and despite his transfer order and the appointment of another officer in his place, he refused to leave.
The controversy erupted sometime back after Murthy allegedly insulted the local corporator Abdul Lateef. It is alleged that Murthy had made a person from the Mogaveera community run from pillar to post for sanctioning of kerosene subsidy. The corporator had reportedly questioned Murthy's attitude towards the Mogaveera man, to which Murthy allegedly retorted with snide remarks about Lateef's religion.
An angered Lateef then urged the higher authorities to transfer Murthy, as, apart from misbehaving, he had been holding the post from the last 29 years. Lateef succeeded in a getting Murthy's transfer order and a new officer even arrived at the port to replace Murthy, but the latter stayed on.
On Friday, when the minister arrived, it is said that Murthy approached him with a request to let him continue in the post. Corporator Lateef who was at the spot questioned the minister about Murthy's continuation in the post for the last 29 years, despite his transfer order and arrival of the new officer.
At this, supporters of Murthy objected to the corporator's remarks and soon a verbal fight began between two groups. The arguments snowballed into a brawl and personal attacks on a few leaders flew back and forth, further worsening the situation. The Bunder police intervened and after some effort, managed to bring the situation under control and the mob was dispersed.
Meanwhile, minister Baburao Chinchansur, who had earlier been welcomed with music bands and fireworks, left the venue in a hurry.
Press meet
Earlier in the evening, Chinchansur addressed a press meet after visiting Ullal and other fishing ports, and said that his ministry would implement a minor port policy which would foster trade and economic growth in the region.
The policy, which he said would help the local fishermen, would be presented in the cabinet meeting on June 23, he said.
He further said that the work on the construction of breakwater at Ullal is in progress.
When the reporters asked the minister about passenger vessel to Lakshadweep, the minister only said that a proposal in this regard would be placed in the cabinet meeting.
During his visit, Chinchansur visited areas hit by sea erosion, namely Koteparura, Mogaveerapatna, and Someshwar and assured the locals that a permanent wall to prevent sea erosion would be built at a cost of Rs 490 crore and the foundation for the same would be laid in October this year by the chief minister.