NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JULY 24
Nine fishermen from Rameswaram have been arrested, and their two boats have also been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy near Neduntheevu on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin conveyed to the Centre on Wednesday and urged quick steps for the release of fishers and their boats.
இலங்கைக் கடற்படையினரால் சிறைபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மீனவர்களையும், அவர்களது மீன்பிடிப் படகுகளையும் உடனடியாக விடுவித்திட வலியுறுத்தி மாண்புமிகு ஒன்றிய அமைச்சர் @DrSJaishankar அவர்களுக்கு மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளார். pic.twitter.com/nWtiGIJvLV
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) July 24, 2024
A group of fishermen from Rameswaram had gone fishing in 430 boats on Monday after getting the necessary permission.
- Writing to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin sought urgent measures to secure the release of a total of 87 fishermen from the state and 175 boats
- The arrested fishermen were then taken to Kangesanthurai Naval Camp and will likely be handed over to Jaffna Fisheries Department Authorities
Two boats, owned by Isaac Robin and Selvakumar, were seized and nine fishermen aboard the vessel were arrested by the Srilankan Navy, claiming that they had crossed the International border.
The arrested fishermen were then taken to Kangesanthurai Naval Camp and will likely be handed over to Jaffna Fisheries Department Authorities and post enquiry are to be imprisoned.
Meanwhile, fishermen also complained that another team fishing near Katchatheevu were chased away by a Srilankan Navy vessel, which also rammed into a Indian fishing boat, severely damaging it.
Writing to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin sought urgent measures to secure the release of a total of 87 fishermen from the state and 175 boats. On July 22, 2024, nine fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram and their two fishing boats were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities.
“I am constrained to point out that during this calendar year up to 22nd July 2024 alone, 250 fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities, the highest since 2014.”
Incidents of intimidation and arrest of fishermen, seizure of their boats and fishing apparatus are continuing unabated, which has extremely distressed the fishermen community. “Therefore, I urge that earnest efforts are initiated through diplomatic channels to ease this situation and I further request you to address this issue comprehensively to secure the expeditious release of 87 fishermen and 175 boats from Sri Lanka.”
