Sri Lankan maritime forces arrest 8 Indian fishermen, seize 2 fishing dhows

Pudukottai

The fishermen, hailing from Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu were arrested while they were reportedly fishing in Lankan waters, North West off Kovilan Point in Karainagar, a senior official of State fisheries department said here today.

The incarcerated fishermen along with the fishing dhows were handed over to the officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Kankesanthurai for onward action.  

The fishermen, who returned to the shore this morning alleged that the Sri Lankan Naval personnel attacked several Indian fishing boats and destroyed fishing nets.
 
The attack on fishing boats and arrest of eight fishermen had triggered resentment among the fisher-folk, who urged the Centre to take immediate steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to restore the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen at Palk Bay.

It may be noted that fishermen of eight coastal districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had laid a siege to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission at Chennai on February 29 demanding the release of 29 Indian fishermen lodged in Sri Lankan prisons and to release 78 impounded boats. 

The fishermen of Mechanized fishing boat in Rameswaram also observed a five-day strike from February 26 for similar reason.