NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on September 9 a plea which has sought direction to the Centre to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government for release of arrested Indian fishermen. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath which asked the counsel appearing for the petitioner to serve copy of the petition to the central agency. The petition, filed by Tamil Nadu resident KK Ramesh, has said Indian naval ships should provide security to Indian fishermen within International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka, and monitor illegal activities in the interest of the nation. The plea claimed several Indian fishermen were illegally arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel and were kept in the jails there where they were not given proper food and drinking water. It said it is the bounden duty of the government to protect the citizens of its country. The petition claimed the Indian government has not taken any strong action about it.

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