Tension prevailed in north Chennai on Monday as fishermen from Kasimedu and Royapuram took to the streets and resorted to violence during a protest against the use of high-speed Chinese engines by a section of fishermen. The protesters alleged that Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar was supporting the fishermen using Chinese engines which deprived the livelihood of majority of the fishermen. Five buses of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and 10 private vehicles on the roadside were vandalised as the irate fishermen hurled stones. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them. Stir on for 3 months Fishermen in Chennai and other parts of State have been agitating for last three months against the usage of boats fitted with Chinese engines by a section of the fishermen, who were primarily into export business. Even though the fishermen were on strike and officials held talks with them to reach an amicable solution, boats with Chinese engines continued to operate. Under such circumstances, a youth, who was opposing the affluent fishermen, was picked up by police for inquiry on Sunday evening. Opposing the arrest, fishermen gathered in large numbers on Suryanarayana Road, an arterial road near Kamarajar Park, close to the ancestral home of Mr. Jayakumar, on Monday morning. The protesters, predominantly fisherwomen, blocked the road demanding that Fisheries Minister should come and talk to them. Joint Commissioner of Police, North, R. Sudhakar held talks with them. As they squatted on road, a few miscreants threw stones on MTC buses and other vehicles, police said. Police personnel were injured in the stone pelting and some vehicles were damaged. Police resorted to lathicharge to chase the protesters away. A couple of women were injured and the road was littered with chappals and stones. A heavy posse of police personnel was deployed to bring the situation under control as the crowd gathered again at another junction. Only after the officials of Fisheries Department dismantled the Chinese engines from four boats, the protesters dispersed. Traffic was affected on the arterial road. S. Srinivasan, president of a welfare association for fishermen, said, Over 2,500 boats operate here and majority fishermen depend upon on the earnings through day-to-day fishing. A selective few using Chinese engines deprive the livelihood of others.” D. Bulendran, another fisherman, said, Boats fitted with the Chinese engines net the entire catch and very often we draw a blank. Whatever we catch in three months, they would do it in a day or two. Fishermen instigated’ In New Delhi, Mr. Jayakumar told reporters that the fishermen were being instigated by a few. I had taken steps and stopped fishermen who were forced to give mamool. Since I stopped it, some people are using few others against me. He said that the protesters can always approach the officials in case of any grievance. There are officers and there are senior officers, Secretary and then comes the Minister.” When asked about him being elected from the area, he said, The Minister is for all constituencies and not only for one constituency. Condemning police for lathicharge on fisherfolk, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss said instead of protecting fisheries and community people, the Fisheries Minister was trying to destroy the livelihood of ordinary fishermen.