Thiruvananthapuram: Transport minister C P John on Friday said the search for Shijin, an Anchuthengu native who went missing at sea off Muthalapozhi, wouldn’t be called off; instead, 10 more fishermen would be deployed to intensify the operation.John was speaking to the media after holding discussions with Shijin’s family members, parish priest Fr Santhosh and representatives of the fishing community at St Peter’s Forane Church in Anchuthengu. The minister said govt stood firmly with Shijin’s family in their grief.Ten fishermen with a thorough knowledge of the sea have been selected for the operation under the leadership of Fr Santhosh. Instead of being engaged solely for the search, they will be appointed temporarily as part of the collectorate’s rescue team.“We remain hopeful of bringing Shijin back alive. The chief minister and govt have taken a compassionate view of the measures to be adopted subsequently. The process will be taken forward without procedural hurdles,” said the minister. The search will resume at 5.45am on Saturday.John said Muthalapozhi had increasingly become a death trap. “Govt will proceed only after conducting a detailed study into whether local fishermen had been consulted before rocks were deposited in the area. Unlike in other places, accidents here occur close to the shore, and govt views the situation very seriously,” he said.John said he visited the area on chief minister’s specific instructions and in his capacity as minister in charge of the district.Govt’s follow-up action on the issues raised during the meeting would be taken in a manner acceptable to the fishermen’s representatives and the council. Around 15 people, including the deputy collector and fisheries deputy director, attended the meeting, at which it was decided that the public and govt would work together.Meanwhile, forest minister Shibu Baby John on Friday said the state govt had taken all steps to find fisherman Gautham from Neendakara who went missing on July 31. Search is on using speed boats and patrol boats and helicopters, and drones are also being used.He said that the scuba divers have been deployed in search efforts in the last few days. Search is on using speed boats and patrol boats and helicopters, and drones are also being used. Gautham from Neendakara had gone missing on July 31.Four fishermen were reported missing from Adimalathura and Valiyathura. Fisheries assistant director and revenue authorities were subsequently directed to launch search-and-rescue operations in coordination with the district administration, state disaster management authority and fisheries directorate.
