Opposition protest unnecessary: Kochi Mayor

Kochi: Kochi Mayor Tony Chammani slammed Opposition, saying that their protest over the probe into the Fort Kochi boat tragedy was unnecessary.

“The CPI(M) led LDF was playing politics over the tragedy,” he told reporters.

Chammani said the Corporation, in its recent meeting, had passed a resolution demanding judicial probe into the tragedy and the matter was being examined by the government.

On Friday, Opposition councillors led by CPI(M) gheraoed the city Mayor Tony Chammani in his chambers here for more than ten hours demanding judicial probe into the Fort Kochi boat tragedy that claimed 11 lives.

Dramatic scenes were witnessed as the agitating LDFcouncillors extended their protest to the Congress Mayor's chamber as he chaired a special meeting of the council in the morning to discuss the Smart City project sanctioned to Kochi.

The Mayor finally emerged from his chambers around 9.30 pm after police intervened and removed the protesting councillors.

They also demanded adequate compensation to the families of the victims.

Opposition councillors have been staging a dharna in front of the corporation office here for the past five days pressing for a judicial probe, saying it was necessary to bring out the facts regarding the alleged involvement of some political leaders in the operation of the ill fated boat.

On September 4, Kerala government had ordered a comprehensive probe into boat tragedy by ADGP (South Zone) K Padmakumar.

The passenger boat, carrying about 35 people, was on its way from Vypin to Fort Kochi when it was hit by a speeding fishing craft at the harbour mouth on August 26.