Chennai, 12 November (IANS). The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu near Paruthurai for crossing the ‘International Maritime Boundary Line’ (IMBL).
Tamil Nadu coastal police officials said he was arrested on Tuesday morning.
This arrest comes shortly after the public statement of Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Dissanayake had expressed concern about Indian fishermen allegedly destroying Sri Lanka’s marine resources by fishing illegally in the island nation’s waters.
The President has said that strict action will be taken against such infiltration.
Two days before this incident, the Sri Lankan Navy had detained 23 Tamil fishermen and seized three motor boats off Rameshwaram.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had earlier written a letter to the Central Government on October 23, appealing for its intervention to ensure the release of the Tamil fishermen.
According to CM Stalin, 128 Tamil fishermen are currently in judicial custody in Sri Lanka and 199 fishing motor boats have been seized.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss also appealed to Union External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar to take note of the frequent mid-sea arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar discussed the issue with the Sri Lankan government and advocated measures to prevent further arrests and seizure of boats.
In response to these repeated arrests, fishermen union leaders across Tamil Nadu are holding massive protests.
Thajudhin, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai, said fishermen associations in the coastal districts have been united against these frequent detentions. He said, ‘The livelihood of our fishermen is in danger. Thousands of people dependent on fishing and related activities are facing serious difficulties. A feeling of fear about going into the sea has spread among the fishermen and their families.
Thajudhin further said that the new Sri Lankan government was going to nationalize the fishing motor boats confiscated from Tamil fishermen. He warned that this action could devastate the fishing industry, as many fishermen had taken loans to buy these expensive boats, repaying them from their fishing income.
–IANS
SCH/MK
