RAMANATHAPURAM: A 59-year-old fisherman from Rameswaram died and another went missing after a Sri Lankan navy patrol vessel rammed their boat causing it to capsize in the Sri Lankan waters in the wee hours of Thursday. Two other fishermen from the capsized boat, who sustained injuries, have been rescued by the Sri Lankan authorities, sources said.
The Ministry of External Affairs has registered its strong protest with the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi over the incident. A video of the two rescued fishermen requesting Chief Minister MK Stalin to bring them back to Tamil Nadu also surfaced on social media.
CM has announced Rs 10 lakh solatium to the family of Malaisamy, the deceased fisherman, and Ramanathapuram Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon handed over the cheque on Thursday evening. In his letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the CM urged the centre to ensure consular access, adequate medical care, and support to the injured, and bring them back to Tamil Nadu at the earliest. The CM has also requested the centre to expedite the process to bring back the mortal remains of the deceased fisherman to India.
Official sources said nearly 400 fishing boats left Rameswaram on Wednesday night.
TN will bring back rescued fishers: CM
WHEN they were fishing near the International Maritime Border, some boats allegedly entered the Sri Lankan waters and the island nation’s patrol vessel threatened to arrest the fishermen if they continued to fish in the region. After some time, the patrol vessel rammed one of the fishing boats five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu.
Of the four Indian fishermen who were on the capsized boat, Malaisamy died and Ramachandran (64) went missing. Units from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Naval Ship (INS) later initiated a search operation to find the missing fisherman. The SL Navy personnel managed to rescue Mookaiyan (54) and Muthu Muniyandi (57).
Sources said the Indian High Commission in Colombo will raise the matter with the Sri Lankan government. The Indian consulate officials in Jaffna have also been instructed to rush to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the rescued fishermen.
Condemning the incident, CM Stalin said his government would take all possible steps to bring back the rescued fishers from Sri Lanka and find the missing person. Leaders of various political parties in Tamil Nadu have also slammed the SL navy for the continuing attack and arrest of Tamil fisherfolk. Karthikeyan, owner of the capsized boat, said, “We received information about the incident in the morning.
I don’t know how I will face the families of the four fishermen. I request the government to take all necessary steps to rescue the missing fisherman, and bring back Malaisamy’s body. Now that my boat is gone, I have to find a daily-wage job to support my family.”
Meanwhile, family members of the affected men and members of various fishers associations staged protests and blocked roads in Rameswaram, demanding immediate action to find the missing fisherman and bring back Malaisamy’s body. Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association leader Sagayam said over 10 boats and several fishermen have been captured by Sri Lanka in the last two months. “Because of these troubles, several fisherfolks in Rameswaram are migrating to other states in search of work,” he said.