NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 14 fishermen from Thangachimadam and Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu while they were fishing in the Palk Bay.
According to reports, over 425 boats received tokens from the Fisheries Department on Tuesday and several fishermen ventured into the sea from Rameswaram jetty.
Fourteen fishermen in two boats, owned by Michael Raj and Nijo of Thangachimadam, were fishing somewhere near Neduntheevu islet at around 2 a.m. They were set to return to the shores by 6 a.m., but the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on surveillance arrested them claiming they crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Fisheries Department officials said the arrested fishermen and the two trawlers were taken to the Sri Lankan Navy Port at Mannar.
In Ramanathapuram, fishermen leader Sesu Raja said from June this year, when the annual ban period for fishing commenced, over 250 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested and 30 trawlers were impounded in about 160 days.
The Sri Lankan government has been harassing fishermen from Tamil Nadu under the false claim that they were engaged in poaching, he said. “This is totally false and unfortunate. The Union government should bring about a permanent solution. We are in a Catch 22 situation. The fishermen venturing into the Palk Bay are insecure. We are under severe psychological pressure and stress. Our families are in dire straits as our livelihood is in question,” he added.
Meanwhile, fishermen associations have convened an emergency meeting on Thursday evening at Thangachimadam to discuss the issue and call for action.
(Manas Dasgupta)