Pudukottai, Dec 21: The Sri Lankan Navy arrested13 more
Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized their two mechanized fishing
trawlers for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line
(IMBL) and illegally poaching in its territorial waters last night.
Fisheries department officials said here today that the arrested
fishermen hailed from Jegathapattinam coastal hamlet in Pudukottai.
The fishermen had set sail into the sea for fishing in 102 trawlers
from Jegathapattinam yesterday morning.
Protesting against the arrest, the Jegathapattinam fishermen began
an indefinite strike.
“The strike will continue till all the arrested fishermen and their
boats are released”, said a member of the fishermen association.
With the latest arrest of 13 fishermen, a total of 68 fishermen from
the State were arrested in the last couple of days by the Lankan
Navy triggering uproar among the fishing community.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy in its official website confirmed
the arrest of Indian fishermen and said during a special operation
in the seas west of the Analathivu Island executed by a Fast Attack
Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, attached to the Northern Naval
Command, two Indian fishing trawlers with 13 fishermen on board
poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters were arrested.
Further arrangements were being made to hand over the apprehended
Indian fishermen for onward legal action after directing them for a Rapid
Antigen Test.
The Navy will continue to patrol the Island waters round the clock to thwart
poaching activities of foreign fishermen, it said.
As a result of the Navy’s continuous effort to prevent poaching by Indian
fishing trawlers in Lankan territorial waters, 10 Indian trawlers and 68
fishermen were taken into naval custody during special operations on
December 18, 19 and 20, it said.
Meanwhile, the indefinite strike by the fishermen in Rameswaram
demanding the release of 55 fishermen and their eight boats, entered
the third day today.
Fishermen stayed away from sea and said they would resort to a rail
roko agitation on the New Year Day if the fishermen were not released
by December 31.
