Ship rams into Indian fishing boat, 3 dead
Kochi, Aug 7 : A ship off the coast of Kerala here rammed into an Indian fishing boat early on Tuesday along the international route, killing three fishermen, a minister said. The ship is being located.
The incident took place around 28 nautical miles from the shore on the high seas around 4 a.m., Kerala Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty said.
The ship's identification and more details are awaited, he said.
"We just have preliminary information and that three fishermen have been reported dead, while another eight fishermen in the boat who were saved are being brought to the shore.
"We are told that this accident occurred around 28 nautical miles from the shore. We have passed on the information to the Mumbai based Maritime Institute, who will be able to locate the ship," Mercykutty told the media.
The Indian boat named Oceanus had left the Munambam Port late on Monday for a fishing expedition in the high seas.
P.V. Sivan the owner of the boat told the media that details were awaited. Two of the rescued fishermen were being taken to a hospital, Sivan said.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
