A top office-bearer of a fishermen's trade union was today hacked to death in broad daylight here amid a standoff between the fishers and owners of mechanised boats over selling the catch, triggering tension in the port town, police said.
President of Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association Parthiban was killed by an unidentified gang when he was on his way home for lunch from the port area, they said.
Parthiban died on the spot. As the news spread, tension gripped the area and police reinforcements had posted there.
Police said the fishermen were protesting against fixing of eight per cent commission for auctioners and the latter deciding on the traders to whom the fish catch should be sold.
The talks between the office-bearers of the boat owners and fishermen associations failed to arrive at a settlement on the issue last evening.
It was alleged that during the talks boat owners association members had abused Parthiban, protesting which about 4,000 fishermen resorted to a strike today.
The fishermen also demanded that the government should cancel the fish auctioning system in the fishing harbour,and decided to hold talks with the officials of the fisheries department regarding their demand.
In this background, tight security had been made in the harbour area. A mechanised boat was damaged by some miscreants last night and one bike was also burnt.
