The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the state government to submit a report on the steps it has taken regarding the violent incidents at Vizhinjam, where fishermen have been protesting against the Adani Group’s Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited.
Earlier in the day, Kerala police arrested 3,000 people in connection with the fishermen’s attack on the Vizhinjam police station on Sunday evening, in which 36 policemen and around 20 protesters were injured. Police said in a First Information Report (FIR) that the protesters wanted the release of the five men detained over Saturday’s violence and also threatened to burn the policemen alive if they were not released.
Chief Justice Anu Sivaraman directed Kerala while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Adani Group against the state government for not complying with an earlier directive to provide police protection for the company to resume construction that had been halted for more than three the month.
Although the state government sought more time to file an affidavit on the action taken by it, the high court rejected the plea and posted the matter on Friday.
The Supreme Court asked the government why the police did not arrest the instigators. It is further said that not only the agitators but also the instigators are also liable for damages. On the government’s action, the court said it was not about reports or filing of FIRs.
The state government then informed the court that it was submitting a report on the steps taken. “There is no question of reporting or lodging an FIR, court orders are being ignored. The court wants to know what are the steps taken by the government,” the court said.
When the court was told that the police were unable to prevent the impasse, the government counsel said that the same situation would have arisen even if central forces had been deployed.
Fishermen have been protesting against the Rs 7,500-crore port for the past four months. They claim that its construction has caused massive sea erosion leading to the loss of livelihoods and housing.