Sri Lankan Navy Detains Seven Fishermen from Tamil Nadu
The Sri Lankan Navy has detained seven fishermen from Rameswaram, prompting calls for government intervention in ongoing maritime disputes.
Rameswaram, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : The Sri Lankan Navy detained seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu early Sunday morning near Rameswaram and Thangachimadam. This incident has reignited calls for government intervention to find a lasting resolution to ongoing fishing disputes in the region.
According to officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the fishermen were apprehended while fishing between Kachchativu Island and Northern Mannar. They are accused of illegal fishing and have been taken to a Sri Lankan naval port along with their trawler.
The detained fishermen have been identified as Plasius (41), Alagu Pandi (22), Antony Pitchai (33), Robin (21), Nelson (58), Arulananda Javier (65), and Sahai Anand (34). All seven belong to fishing communities in the Ramanathapuram district.
On Saturday, the Fisheries Department had issued 398 fishing tokens. Fishermen were expected to return by Sunday evening, but these seven were detained before completing their journey.
A leader from the fishermen’s community stated, “We will convene a meeting of all fishing organizations in the coastal district to determine our next steps.”
This incident follows the arrest of nine fishermen from Rameswaram and the seizure of their mechanized boat on October 3. Following that event, Chief Minister Vijay appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for intervention.
In a letter dated October 5, Vijay requested the release of 20 fishermen currently held in Sri Lanka and the return of 270 seized boats. He also urged for the resumption of talks through a bilateral ‘Joint Working Group’ on fishing matters.
Earlier in July, nine fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested while fishing north of Mannar, with their boat confiscated and crew taken to a naval camp. A similar incident occurred in March, involving seven fishermen from Rameswaram and their two boats, accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). At that time, fishing organizations demanded the return of the fishermen and their boats.
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