Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
from special correspondent

Panaji, Aug 11: Despite constant terror attack threats through porous sea border, Goa police have failed to issue identity cards to the fishermen in this coastal state.

The reported intelligence inputs had feared militant outfit like Al-Quada will attack India seaways disguised as fishermen.

The state had aimed to issue identity cards to around 10,000 fishermen, who work in the state on around 700-odd trawlers.

``The workforce from states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal has joined the job as the fishing season has started on August one but they are yet to be given identity cards,’’ Sitakant Parab, chairman, Mandovi fisheries cooperative society, a venture by fishermen operating from Malim jetty across Panaji, stated.

Six months back, the police had convened a meeting of fishermen informing them of the possible terror threat and had evinced their cooperation to counter the same. ``Nothing has happened after that meeting… We are waiting,’’ Parab said.

Unofficial figure confirms that the state has around 25,000 workers engaged in the trawling activity. Police officials confirmed that during this year, they had decided to give identity cards to 10,000 of them.

However, police have managed to enlist only 2,200 fishermen. ``We are facing the problems to issue identity cards and enlist all the fishermen as it involves cooperation between different states,’’ Ujwal Mishra, deputy inspector general, Goa police, stated.

The police had decided to issue cards only after verifying their criminal antecedents for which they require cooperation of the counterparts in the respective states.

Mishra confirmed that the exercise is tedious and may take more time.

The worry, however, is compounded as many new workers have joined the trade this year. ``Many of them are from states like Orissa. There is a possibility of Bangladeshis entering along with the Orissa flock,’’ Parab concedes.