One person died in police firing and 23 policemen were injured when agitating fishermen turned violent at Gangavaram port near Visakhapatnam Monday morning.
Giving details of violent incidents, Visakhapatnam City Police Commissioner V S K Kaumudi told AFP, "Between 7.30 and 8 am, a large number of villagers of Gangavaram led by some leaders gathered to launch their indefinite protest to disrupt the construction activity on the new port which is coming up."
A day before, the villagers attacked a special grade deputy collector and other revenue personnel. Policemen were also attacked. A sub-inspector, who sustained injuries, was hospitalised.
"This morning, despite warnings and persuasion, the agitating villagers started pelting stones and attacked the policemen with sticks. In all, 23 police personnel were injured," he added.
The commissioner said the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the agitators. "Even the bursting of teargas shells failed to deter them. Finding them in no mood to relent, policemen acted solely in self-defence and fired some rounds in the air. However, one person sustained bullet injuries and later succumbed," he pointed out.
"The situation is tense, but under control now," the commissioner added.
The fishermen and other villagers in Gangavaram and three other neighbouring villages are agitating for the last 15 months against the development of a major port with 40 jetties at Gangavaram by a Dubai-based consortium.
The political parties -- particularly, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India and Telugu Desam Party -- have demanded a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement package for the 3,600 fishermen families -- comprising 18,000 persons -- which are being displaced due to the port project.