RAMANATHAPURAM: The Sri Lankan Navy detained a fishing boat and arrested seven Indian fishermen hailing from Rameswaram allegedly for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) late on Monday night.
They were produced before a court in Mannar, and were remanded to judicial custody till July 11. Chief Minister M K Stalin has once again written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take immediate and appropriate action to secure the release of the fishers and their vessels.
According to sources in the fisheries department, 400 boats ventured into the sea from Rameswaram on Monday. A cluster of fishing boats allegedly entered Sri Lankan waters, but were chased away by a Sri Lankan navy patrol unit. But one boat that remained in SL waters was caught by the Sri Lankan navy, and seven fishermen who were on board were arrested.
Sources said the boat (IND-TN-10-MM-144) is owned by S Arokiya Richard of Thangachimadam. The arrested fishermen have been identified as S Derick, S Sasikumar, Seenu, M Mukkuran, R Muthusaravanan, P Kalidas and S Senthil, from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam.
In his letter, the CM pointed out this has been the second wave of arrests in the past two days. “It is causing severe distress and uncertainty among the fishing community, which has only recently resumed operations following the seasonal fishing ban. Already, 48 Indian fishermen are in Sri Lankan custody,” he said.
Sagayam, fishermen association leader from Rameswaram said, “Despite staging several protests, the arrest of fishermen continues, which is condemnable. On Sunday, about eight Rameswaram fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy, and on Monday night seven more have been arrested by Sri Lankan navy. “
The fishermen association urged the union government to take immediate action to release the fishermen and retrieve the seized boats from Sri Lanka.