Tamil Nadu: Sri Lankan Navy allegedly harasses Nagapattinam fishermen in mid-sea

According to reports, the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly invaded with their boat and confiscated fishing nets valued at Rs 2.6 lakh, along with a GPS device, a walkie-talkie, and other equipment

Fishermen from Seruthur village in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district have claimed they were harassed by Sri Lankan Navy personnel while fishing in a fibre boat southeast of Kodikkarai, reported news agency ANI.

According to ANI report, the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly invaded with their boat and confiscated fishing nets valued at Rs 2.6 lakh, along with a GPS device, a walkie-talkie, and other equipment. The fishermen further alleged that the Sri Lankan naval patrol vessel deliberately cut their fishing nets, seized the fuel from their boat, and carried out acts of intimidation and harassment.

Fishermen Shanmugam, Jayaraman, Sakthimayil, and Manimar, who lost their equipment and fishing gear in the incident, have since returned to shore in fear and distress. The arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy remains a recurring issue, prompting the State leadership to repeatedly urge the Central government to find a lasting solution, potentially by reclaiming Katchatheevu island in the Palk Bay from Sri Lanka.

In April this year, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Union government to take necessary steps to retrieve the Katchatheevu  island, reported ANI. The resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin said, "Retrieval of Katchatheevu island is the only permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and to mitigate the sufferings faced by them due to the Sri Lankan Navy."

According to officials till March 27, 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and taken to Kangesanthurai by the Sri Lankan Navy for investigation. 

Earlier, on March 20, 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen who had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing beyond permitted boundaries returned to India after being handed over by the Indian Embassy in Colombo.

The fishermen were initially detained on February 26 and presented before the Mallakam court in Sri Lanka, where they remained in custody for nearly a month. During their detention, three of them were admitted to a government hospital in Sri Lanka due to injuries sustained.

The Sri Lankan court reportedly ordered their release on March 12, following diplomatic discussions between the two countries.

On February 23, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin highlighted concern over the rising number of Indian fishermen being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. He called on the Central government to convene a Joint Working Group (JWG) to work towards a long-term and permanent resolution to the issue.

(With inputs from ANI)

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