RAMANATHAPURAM: WITH IN a week after bilateral talks between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments on arriving at a permanent solution to the fishermen arrest issue, at Delhi, the Island nation has once again arrested a group of eight Tamil fishermen near Neduntheevu on Monday evening.
The fishermen are remanded till October 25. All the eight fishermen, hailing from Thangachimadam of Rameswaram, left from Rameswaram coast. While sailing near Neduntheevu, the fishermen were reportedly arrested by the SL navy for allegedly indulging in cross-border fishing and were taken to Talaimannar coast.After being produced before a court at Talaimannar, the fishermen were sent to Vavuniya prison where they would be kept under judicial custody till October 25. Speaking on the issue, P Jesuraja, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association told Express, “The fishermen left for the sea around 5 in the evening.
Soon after reaching the fishing spot near Neduntheevu, they were arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities.” ‘The fishing community is already struggling to survive due to the continuing arrests and seizure of boats. Many, who lost their boats to the SL Navy, are burdened with a cost of nearly `30 to `40 lakh for buying new boats. The Centre should intervene and find a permanent solution to this issue,” he added. Jesuraja also requested the government to take immediate action for release of boats held by the Sri Lankan government. Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department P Isaac Jayakumar told Express that they have submitted a report to the State government on the issue.