Missing fishermen: Karnataka seeks Centre’s help

Karnataka has sought Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s help in the search for eight fishermen who are missing for nearly a month now.

The fishermen were aboard a boat named Suvarna Thribhuja (IND KA 02 MM4632’ that went missing on December 13, 2018.

Karnataka has requested the Centre to expedite the search operation by deploying reconnaissance aircraft to increase the search area in the high seas and “in any other manner to trace the missing fishermen,” Karnataka’s Revenue Minister RV Deshpande wrote in a letter to Singh.

Karnataka has initiated a massive search operating involving the Coastal Security Police and local administration and “all efforts are being made by the State government in order to locate and rescue missing fishermen,” Deshpande wrote.

“In the high seas, local Coast Guard station and Indian Navy has efficient mechanism to locate and to conduct rescue operations. The State government has requested their services and they have also responded necessary assistance (sic),” Deshpande wrote, requesting Singh to intervene and direct the concerned authorities to expedite the search operations.