Fishermen in 6 districts to go on hunger strike from March 13

According to the organisers, after a span of two-and-a-half years, K Bridjo of Rameswaram was the first fisherman who lost his life in the Palk Strait after the Lankan Navy reportedly opened fire.

Though, this is the season for good catch in the Bay of Bengal off Kodiakkarai, the killing of Bridjo had scared the fellow fishermen of six coastal districts. While the fishermen from Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts have started the indefinite strike already and anchored their boats in the harbour, the decision on going on indefinite hunger strike by adjacent districts like Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Karaikal would reach the Union Government and pave the way for it to ensure security of the fishermen. 

The meeting was organised by the Nagapattinam fishermen at Akkaraipettai fishing hamlet in which the representatives of all six coastal districts like Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Karaikal and Ramanathapuram participated in the day-long meeting. 

According to Mohandoss, an office bearer of Nagapattinam Taluk Fishermen Association, all the six districts fishermen are to sit in an indefinite hunger strike in their respective district headquarters from March 13, demanding the Union Government press the Sri Lankan government to release the fishermen from SL prisons and their boats and urging their safety while fishing. 

The meeting also decided to meet the fishermen of Rameshwaram on Friday and express their solidarity to their indefinite protest that commenced three days ago.