Sri Lankan navy arrests 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen, seizes boats; total arrests in October up to 64

“As you are aware, our fishermen are solely dependent on their fishing activity for livelihood and these frequent arrests are causing immense distress and suffering to the fishermen community,” the chief minister said.

In the  letter to Jaishankar on Sunday, a copy of which was made available to the media, Stalin said such acts of the Sri Lankan navy have put pressure on fishermen communities in the state.

“I wish to state that Tamil Nadu fishermen feel that their voices are on the wane. I feel that the Government of India should be more vocal for our fishermen’s rights and speak for their safety,” he said.

The chief minister reiterated his request to safeguard the traditional fishing privileges of the Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay area. He emphasised that despite the ongoing appeals to halt the detainments and boat seizures, the Sri Lankan navy has persisted in apprehending Indian fishermen.

In his letter, he called for prompt and robust diplomatic actions to put an end to these arrests.

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Crippling livelihoods

According to sources privy to the matter, the Indian Navy intensified patrolling activities following the anchoring of an alleged Chinese naval spy ship in the Sri Lankan waters.

Less than a fortnight ago, the Lankan navy arrested 27 fishermen for allegedly venturing into the Lankan waters.  All the detained fishermen were sent to judicial custody by the Oorkavalthurai magistrate till 27 October and were lodged in Jaffna prison.

Speaking to South First R Sebastian, a local fishermen’s association leader, had then alleged that the Lankan navy itself trespassed across the maritime boundary and often drove Indian fishermen away.

NJ Bose, the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Association, had called for the state government’s intervention in securing the fishermen’s release.

(With inputs from PTI)