Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) [India]: A boat that ventured into the sea for fishing off the coast of Rameswaram with eight crew members was apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, as per the Rameswaram Assistant Director of Fisheries on Tuesday.
The boat was part of a group of 430 total mechanised boats from Rameswaram, that ventured into the sea for fishing purposes.
CR Senthilvel, Tamil Nadu Secretary of AITUC Fishing Workers’ Association, also confirmed that the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 8 fishermen off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
Highlighting the alleged murders and arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen, he said that over 350 fishermen have been arrested and 2 have been murdered. “Tamil Nadu fishermen are being caught by the Sri Lankan Navy throughout the year. There have been a lot of boat attacks going on. 2 fishermen have been murdered. More than 350 fishermen have been arrested this year alone. Hence, there is a sense of hopelessness among the fishermen,” said the Secretary.
A few weeks ago, on August 10, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging action to secure the release and repatriation of another group of fishermen who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The letter by the Chief Minister highlighted the death of two fishermen and said that there has been no relief or respite on the matter. “I am writing this to you with a deep sense of anguish and concern as 35 of our fishermen from Ramanathapuram district, along with their four motorised country boats, were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy yesterday. I wish to recall that just recently, a delegation from Tamil Nadu that included the MPs and fishermen representatives met you after we had lost two fishermen. It is distressing to note that despite this, there has been no significant relief or respite in this regard,” CM Stalin stated in the letter.