State BJP chief Annamalai has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting intervention in the repatriation of the fishermen.
Published Feb 05, 2024 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 05, 2024 | 2:19 PM
Sri Lankan navy arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen. (Creative Commons)
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 23 Indian fishermen and seized two trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters, according to an official statement in Colombo. The fishermen were arrested, and their two trawlers were seized on Saturday north of the Delft Island, Jaffna, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release on Sunday, 4 February.
The 23 apprehended fishermen and their two trawlers were escorted to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mayiladi Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said.
“The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on the night of 3 February, 2024. The operation resulted in the seizure of two Indian trawlers and the apprehension of 23 Indian nationals poaching in the northern waters of Sri Lanka, off the Delft Island in Jaffna,” the statement said.
The Navy conducts regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the consequences of these practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.
In continuation of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft belonging to the Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, as the trawlers were detected engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on Saturday.
Taking to X, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai shared a letter written on Sunday, 4 February, to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting intervention in the “immediate repatriation of the detained Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Army”. He also requested the EAM to “ensure their safety on the high seas”.
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we request the kind intervention of our Hon EAM Thiru @DrSJaishankar avl in the immediate repatriation of the detained Tamil Fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. pic.twitter.com/B2Z2d4k8xX
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) February 5, 2024
Earlier, on 14 January, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had written to EAM Jaishankar informing him about the apprehension of 12 fishermen and three fishing boats by the Sri Lankan Army on 13 January.
In his letter, Stalin stated that the fishermen from Kottaipattinam fishing habour of Pudukkottai district were out fishing in three mechanised fishing boats near Neduntheevu, an inland in Palk Strait, when they were taken into custody.
“I request you to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan government through appropriate diplomatic channels to immediately secure the release of our fishermen and their fishing boats,” he further wrote.
இலங்கை கடற்படையால் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு அந்நாட்டு சிறையில் வாடும் தமிழ்நாடு மீனவர்களையும் அவர்களது மீன்பிடிப் படகுகளையும் உடனடியாக விடுவித்திட நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கக்கோரி மாண்புமிகு ஒன்றிய அமைச்சர் @DrSJaishankar அவர்களுக்கு மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளார். pic.twitter.com/xGI1YnMSKH
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) January 14, 2024
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
In January, 2024, as many as 36 Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka.
In 2023, the island nation’s Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
On 6 December, 2023, at least 21 Indian fishermen were arrested with their four trawlers seized in the northeastern waters off Mannar and Kovilan.
On 29 October, the Sri Lankan navy arrested 37 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and confiscated five of their fishing trawlers. Before that, on 14 October, 27 fishermen were arrested in two separate instances and the seizure of four boats.
(With PTI inputs)
