32 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy; five trawlers impounded
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 32 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and impounded five trawlers in the Palk Strait on Wednesday night. The fishermen had set sail in the morning.
Around 7 p.m., Sri Lankan naval personnel on surveillance duty reportedly detained 25 fishermen who were fishing in three trawlers near the Neduntheevu islet. After preliminary inquiries, they were taken to the nearest port, Mannar, for further investigation.
Close on the heels of this, seven fishermen who were fishing in the Palk Strait in two boats, were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy. According to fishermen leader P. Jesu Raja, the arrested fishermen were taken to the Kankesanthurai Port for interrogation and remand judicial custody.
On March 16, a total of 21 fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested and two trawlers impounded; while on March 15, a total of 15 fishermen from Karaikal and Nagapattinam were arrested.
Mr. Raja said that it was high time that the Indian government held talks with Sri Lanka and brought an end to this issue. “Our livelihood is at stake. The fishermen’s families, back in home, are silent sufferers. While the men are languishing in prisons in Sri Lanka, the women are forced to make ends meet for their families,” he said.
It may be recalled that fishermen in Rameswaram announced that they would stage a demonstration in Rameswaram on March 26 to draw the attention of the Union government to this issue. The 61day annual ban on fishing in the Palk Strait is likely to be announced next month.