Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 1: It is said that the cell phones belonging to Laxman Harikantra from Kumta Holanagadde and Ravi from Honnavar Manki rang when the families were trying to call these phones. Laxman and Ravi are among the seven fishermen who went missing along with the fishing boat, 'Suvarna Tribhuja' from Malpe.
It has been 46 days since the fishermen went missing. The families of the above two fishermen have claimed that Laxman's phone rang twice on Wednesday night and Ravi's once on Thursday morning, before they started getting switched off signal. The families reportedly have informed the police about this phenomenon.
Laxman's family has been trying to ring the cell phone number of the missing fisherman everyday since he went missing. When Laxman's daughter called his phone at 7.24 pm and again at 7.47 pm, she heard ringing tone. But immediately she began getting switched off signal, it is said. Ravi's cell phone rang on Thursday morning before getting switched off. Laxman's brother, Pandu Mogera, said that Laxman's cell phone had rung twice.
The police however said that there is no evidence of the call having been connected to the cel lphones of the missing fishermen. The police also say that the cell phones of the missing fishermen have not so far been switched on. They feel that there is chance of calls going to another cell phone due to signal jump in mobile towers. They added that they do not have any technical evidence to support the claims of the fishermen families.
In the meanwhile, the fishermen are angry at the fact that there is no clear information from the government agencies, who have been claiming that they are searching for the missing boat. The families of fishermen also questioned the superintendent of police during his visit to Malpe on Wednesday why there is no clear cut information and why it is taking so long to confirm what was that which they discovered at the bottom of the sea some days back.
The fishermen said that they had told union minister, Anant Kumar Hegde, about holding of protest if the operation is not completed before January 26. They accused the people's representatives from the coast, most of who are from the BJP, of failing to discharge their responsibilities properly. They said that these people have not even properly questioned the state government. They said that within a week, strong protest would be launched in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, demanding immediate, transparent action.