2 boats leave Malpe to trace missing boat

Two more boats have left for Maharashtra and Goa to trace the missing boat Suvarna Thribhuja from Malpe on Friday.

Malpe Fishermen Association President Sathish Kunder said a committee of 25 fishermen had been formed and the search operations were being carried out. “Further, Home Minister M B Patil’s statement that a major clue had been found in connection with the missing boat has rekindled a hope among the fishermen.”

Kunder, however, said the minister was only referring to a tracing a clue and did not tell about the condition of the fishermen. The government should ward off fear in the minds of the fishermen community, he added.

He said according to sources burnt thermocol used in boat has been traced. In case if the boat has met with a mishap, then other items of the boat should have been traced. It is difficult to believe that only thermocol was traced, he added.