Thiruvananthapuram, July 22: Police has stepped up the vigil along the coastal belt of Kollam where clashes between rival fishermen groups left one person dead and several injured last night, state finance minister k Sankaranarayanan, informed the state assembly today.
Replying on chief minister's behalf to an opposition adjournment notice, Sanakaranarayanan said fisheries minister K V Thomas and labour minister Babu Divakaran would lead peace efforts in the troubled areas.
He said the clashes were sparked by dispute over fishing rights between local fishermen and those who had come and settled from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district. The area had a history of clashes of this nature, he said.
In the violence, one Alex was killed and several others including a few policemen were injured. About 70 boats were set afire and a few houses torched.
Police had to fire several rounds of rubber bullets to disperse an irate mob which tried to attack the police.

Three cases had been registered he said adding a company of police under DSP was camping in the area.

In the light of the ministers reply, speaker Vakkom Purushottaman declined to admit the motion.

Bureau Report