TNS Corner
Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 28 TN Fishermen

Nov 18, 2008, 23:08

Seetha Vijayan - TNS

Rameswaram  - Sri Lankan navy personals arrests 28 Puthukodai, Tamil Nadu fishermen who were fishing near the disputed area of Kachaitivu.  At the time of the arrest there were about 300 boats from Jegathpaddinam, Puthukodai were fishing in the area, and following the arrests, fishermen returned to the shore and reported the incident to the fishing authority.

Sri Lankan Navy personals known to harass Tamil Nadu fishermen in Katchativu area, by attacking, and throwing their catches back into the sea and damaging their fishing gears.

Only few weeks ago 25 odd mechanized fishing boats in the mid sea near International Maritime Boundary Line were attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy personals and 3 fishermen while 100 more TN fishermen were injured.

Sri Lankan navy personals also used iron rods, other sharp objects in addition to direct firing on the Tamil Nadu (TN) fishermen in that area. Earlier both Indian and Sri Lankan officials promised (October 26 India-Sri Lanka joint statement), the Tamil Nadu fishermen will not be attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy personals in the future and dealt leniently.

The TN Fisheries Department received many complains from fishermen in the past and many TN fishermen were killed and many others were injured in the heavy handed handling of the TN fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past. At least 500 TN fishermen lost their lives many others were wounded in the Sri Lankan Navy attacks in the sea between Sri Lanka and India.