2,569 TN fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy so far: Government

The official statistics, which was published in a report relating to the Law & Order was tabled in a state conference here and was accessed by DT Next. 

Interestingly, the state had arrested as many as 549 Lankan fishermen in 70 incidents in the same period and all of them were released but their assets (read boats) were retained. 

The report which had further categorised the attack on Indian fishermen from here and had listed out as many as 93 incidents classified into three broad categories – attack, intimidation, and murder by Lankan Navy and Lankan fishermen. It has compiled the data up to February 20, 2018. One instance of murder by Lankan Navy was reported in 2017. The deceased was identified as Bridgo, from Thangachimadam in central Rameswaram, was fishing near the Katchatheevu islet when he was fired upon on March 7, 2017.

A total of 54 instances of attacks were recorded of which 39 and 15 are accounted for by the Sri Lankan Navy and their fishermen and 78 fishermen from here were injured in the attacks. 

The data also revealed that the Lankan navy and fishermen had intimidated the fishermen from the state on 39 occasions between 2013 and 2018. In a recent incident, over 2,500 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Rameswaram were chased away by the Lankan navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu, on March 4. The issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being attacked and arrested was also raised during the recently concluded annual conference of Collectors and District, City Police Chiefs. 

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, when contacted, said, “Our stand is firm that our fishermen, who stray into the Lankan territorial waters, should never be arrested. Even if arrested, they should be handed over to us immediately.” Regarding the fishermen languishing in Lankan prisons, the Minister said that they were taking measures to secure their release. “They would soon be released,” he added. He also said that the state would oppose the Sri Lankan legislation providing for hefty fines on straying Indian fishermen.