Woman protests outside Kollam coastal police station over missing son

The mother of a young fisherman, missing at sea since July 31, on Thursday protested outside the Kollam coastal police station demanding an assurance from the concerned Minister that search operations for her son will be intensified.

The young man, Gautam, had gone fishing with 13 others, including his father and grandfather, and the boat had capsized near Neendakara on July 31, after which he went missing.

Both father, Radhakrishnan, and grandfather, Rajeevan, died in the incident and Gautam has been missing since then. The remaining people on the boat had been rescued.

His mother on Thursday met with senior officials of the Fisheries Department and police officers at the Kollam coastal police station.

Following the meeting, she came out and told reporters that the Fisheries officials said that certain search tactics or methods were not adopted as the same were not demanded by the family and now they will be used.

“Their response showed they were trying to sideline me. I will not leave this place or will die here till the Fisheries Minister comes here in person and gives me an assurance,” she said, breaking into tears.

Fisheries Minister V. E. Abdul Gafoor told a TV channel that the search operations were going on and directions have been issued to intensify the same.

He said that all possible methods would be explored to find the missing fisherman.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi told the woman over the phone, that he has spoken to the Kollam Commissioner of Police regarding the matter and that all possible steps will be taken to find her missing son.

Mr. Gopi also told the woman he would speak to the Coast Guard on the matter.