Chennai, March 29 (BPNS)
The Sri Lankan Navy has apprehended four Indian fishermen in the wee hours of Tuesday near Katchatheevu for allegedly violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Fishermen organizations of Tamil Nadu alleged that the Sri Lankan navy seized one mechanized boat used by the fishermen.
It is to be noted that since January 22, 87 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy. While 42 fishermen were released after the Government of India’s intervention, the rest are still languishing in jails at Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
Fishermen organizations and families of fishermen were in agitation for the past two days at Mandapam and Ramanathapuram against the arrest and detention of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
S.J. Jesudas, a leader of the fishermen association of Tamil Nadu while speaking to BPNS said, “The fishermen of Tamil Nadu are subjected to regular arrests by the Sri Lankan navy and both the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu government are keeping quiet regarding this anti-human arrests by the Sri Lankan navy. It is to be noted that Sri Lanka has taken a 100 crore loan from the Government of India for their survival, still, the island nation’s navy is arresting our fishermen and keeping them in jail.”
He said that the Sri Lankan Navy has seized the mechanized boats of the fishermen on earlier occasions and at present also one fishing boat is seized. The Fishermen’s leader said that the boats are being auctioned by the Sri Lankan authorities after advertising in local newspapers.
Mary Joseph, a fisherwoman at Rameswaram while speaking to BPNS said, “ The situation here is very bad and our fishermen are reluctant to go to the sea fearing attack from the Sri Lankan navy. A new phenomenon has cropped up wherein fishermen from Sri Lanka are begging our fishermen for uncooked rice and liquor as the situation in the island nation is grave. However, the arrogance of the Sri Lankan navy is unfounded and they are even assaulting our fishermen before taking them to the mainland and producing them in courts.”
She said that the Government of India must immediately act and put an end to this issue once and for all.
