40 held in Kalpeni island for detaining tourists

KOCHI: Tension prevailed in Kalpeni island in Lakshadweep on Sunday after the police arrested at least 40 people involved in detaining tourists in the island.The local people had prevented as many as 134 domestic tourists from boarding a passenger vessel on Saturday night, stating that the tourists did not have valid tickets or permits.Following the incident, the Lakshadweep administration suspended three officials for negligence and for not handling the situation in a proper way.“Arrests have been made after the locals prevented tourists from boarding the vessel. Sub Divisional officer P Thanga Koya, Port Assistant Hakim, SHO Hamsa Koya were suspended for negligence and not handling the situation in a proper way,” Additional District Magistrate Rajneesh Kumar said.He said the tourists had valid tickets and permits for entering the island and as such there was no provocation for the locals to detain them. “No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” he said.However, political leaders said the tourists had entered the island without any valid ticket or permit. Former chairperson of Villagedweep panchayat and NCP leader Atta Koya said the local people had prevented the tourists from boarding the vessel as they were not having proper ticket and permit.“The local people had only tried to ascertain if the tourists had proper permits. So what was the reason for arresting them?” he asked.Pradesh Youth Congress committee secretary K I Nizamudeen alleged it was not the first time that such incidents have happened in the island.P Pookunju, assistant general manager of Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS), which arranged the tour package, said all the tourists had valid permits and tickets. “The vessel had been delayed for about seven hours. It has now sailed to Minicoy. The vessel will reach Kochi today (Sunday),” he said.The tourists, mostly from North India, had come to Kalpeni from Kavaratti island on Saturday morning.They were to go back the same evening after a daylong visit, but were not allowed by the locals to board the boat at the harbour. The passengers were stranded in the island till 3:30 am.