In fresh action, 10 fishermen arrested

The fishermen, who were on a protest for nearly a week after the killing of Bridjo, a 21-year-old fisherman from Rameswaram, allegedly by Lankan navy, withdrew their agitation following assurances from union ministers and returned to the sea on Monday. Ten fishermen who ventured into the sea in a mechanised boat belonging to Justin were casting their net Katchatheevu. Suddenly, their boat developed a snag and were stranded. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrived at the scene and arrested them. After the boat was repaired, the navy personnel instructed Rabibu, one of the 10 fishermen, to ply bring the boat to the Sri Lankan coast. When Raibbu refused saying that the boat was damaged, one of the Navy personnel hit Raibbu with a pipe on his head. Raibbu started bleeding and he was rushed to Kankesandhurai port, where he was administered first-aid. Later, Raibbu along with nine others were taken to Jaffna and were handed over to the Jaffna Marine Police, who produced them before a local court. 

A case was filed against the 10 fishermen and all of them were remanded till April 4. The arrested fishermen were identified as Raibbu, Selva, Tamil, Subash, Manikam, Pandi, Castro, Muthukumar, Dhibi and Ranjith.

Three fishermen who were stranded in the mid sea after their boat was sinking due to leakage were rescued on Tuesday. 

It is said, while the fishermen Kumaravel (37), Anand (28) and Mahendran (23), of Jegathapattinam were fishing in the mid sea in a boat owned by Krishnan (51), started sinking after a leakage on Tuesday at the wee hours and soon they contacted their fellow fishermen with the help of walkie talkie. 

On information, the fishermen from Jegathapattinam led by Balamurugan (49), rushed to the spot informed by the stranded fishermen and rescued them. However, they could not recover the boat and the tools as it already had sunk. Subsequently, they alerted the fisheries department and Coastal Security group who have been conducting an inquiry.

Ten fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Tuesday were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy with the state government alleging that the “Lankan Navy has little regard for the diplomatic efforts” being undertaken on the issue. Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the incident came “close on the heels” of Lankan navy personnel allegedly killing an Indian fisherman on March 6. 

“Although shortly after the shooting incident, 85 Indian fishermen were released by the Sri Lankan Navy, the apprehensions made again today indicate that the Sri Lankan Navy has little regard for the diplomatic efforts being undertaken to solve the vexatious issue,” he added. 

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami reiterated the need for mutually acceptable fishing arrangements between India and Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister sought Modi’s direction to External Affairs Ministry officials for concrete action through diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of the 10 fishermen and 129 boats. He also reiterated Tamil Nadu’s demand of a Rs 1,650 crore package for deep-sea fishing from the Centre.