RAMANATHAPURAM: Demanding the immediate release of 12 Pamban fishermen lodged in Sri Lankan prisons for over 90 days, their family members staged a road blockade near the Pamban bridge on Friday, disrupting traffic on the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi stretch for more than half an hour.
The protest was organised by relatives of the fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on February 23 for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in the northern sea off Mannar. A mechanised fishing boat was also seized during the operation. The fishermen have been extended seven times by Sri Lankan authorities. Seeking swift intervention from both the State and Union governments, the fishermen’s relatives, representatives of fishing associations and local fishermen sat on the Dhanushkodi National Highway near the Pamban bridge and demanded expedited legal proceedings to secure the release of the fishermen and their boat.
State minister of environment and climate change Rajeev spoke to the protesters through phone and assured to take action to address the demands.
The protesters also urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to take up the matter with the Union Government and secure their release. They warned of a larger protest if the fishermen are not freed when the case comes up for hearing on May 27. The roadblock which lasted for 30 minutes caused severe traffic snarls in the Madurai-Rameswaram NH.
