Fishers strike work condemning attacks by Lankan navy

The Rameswaram fishing jetty wore a deserted look after the fishermen joined the strike demanding action against the Sri Lankan Navy. Nearly, 800 boats remained anchored in the jetty on Thursday due to the strike.

Recently, Muniyasamy (52), an ill-fated fisherman had drowned in the sea allegedly after the boat he was travelling in collided with a Lankan Navy vessel, said NJ Bose, president, Rameswaram Mechanized Boat Fishermen Association. The State government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, to be extended to the next of the kin.

Expressing solidarity with Muniyasamy’s family, the strike was necessitated. The fishermen had also unanimously demanded government job for one of his family members, Bose said. Muniyasamy is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Since many fishermen were engaged in the unlawful practice of fishing using banned nets, such as pair trawling and purse seine, along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), such attacks were recurring. Despite holding four rounds of talks involving representatives of fishermen associations and officials from India and Sri Lanka, stress was laid on avoiding banned fishing nets. But, it yielded no result as such violations were still continuing.