14 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, two boats seized

 Rameswaram fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy
| Picture Credit score: ]Particular Association

Fourteen fishermen from the coastal district of Ramanathapuram had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on prices of poaching and two trawlers had been seized within the early hours of Sunday (February 9, 2025).

Fisheries Division officers right here instructed The Hindu that that they had issued 427 tokens on Saturday from the fishing harbour and that they had been anticipated to return to shores on Sunday night.

When 14 fishermen (eleven in a single boat and three in one other trawler) had been engaged in fishing, the Sri Lankan Navy detained them underneath prices of poaching within the Palk Bay space. They had been taken to the Naval Port and handed them over to the authorities for additional authorized motion.

In lower than a fortnight alone, over 50 fishermen had been held and just a few days in the past, that they had registered their protest by means of an indication close to Rameswaram bus stand.

Senior fishermen chief Sesu Raja mentioned that they might convene a gathering on Monday (February 10) and determine concerning the subsequent plan of action.

Within the meantime, he instructed this correspondent that the Union authorities needed to step in and maintain talks with the Sri Lankan authorities. “Solely this can deliver a few everlasting resolution…” he mentioned.

The excessive stage assembly with the fishermen associations in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province needs to be organized for direct talks with the fishermen from Tamil Nadu. “The Sri Lankan authorities ought to enable us in Katchatheevu for 3 days in per week… The catch is just there.. Therefore, the governments ought to enter right into a Memorandum of Understanding for 50 years,” Mr. Sesu Raja mentioned.

Such an answer would assist the fishermen from either side to enterprise into the ocean with none apprehension. Else, the livelihood could be in for deep hassle. Fishermen wouldn’t have the sense of safety whereas fishing. “We’re conventional fishermen engaged in fishing within the Palk Bay from time immemorial. Depriving us from the rights underneath some pretext was unfair,” Selvin, a fishermen chief mentioned.

Effective slapped

Within the latest instances, the Sri Lankan authorities not solely arrested the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, but additionally slapped fines starting from 50,000 to 200,000 Sri Lankan Rupee. Additionally, the authorities within the island nation jailed the fishermen from six months to 24 months underneath the guise of “repeat offender”.

Many households had been in melancholy and wanted psychological help, a 59-year-old fisherman Antony from Thangachimadam mentioned and added that when the information reached the colonies right here, the youngsters and girls wept and refused to eat. A few of them even threatened to finish their lives.

The fishermen leaders mentioned that they might meet on Monday.

(Help for overcoming suicidal ideas is obtainable on the State’s well being helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)