Stir demanding speedy release of fishermen

The protestors also demanded that the boats that were taken under the custody of Lankan Navy, should be set free immediately.

N J Bose, state secretary, Mechanized Boat Fishermen Association, Rameswaram, said, “A month ago, 19 fishermen including two students, who accompanied the group for deep sea fishing, were detained by the Lankan Navy on the charges of cross border fishing.”

Leading the agitation, Bose requested the Centre and the State governments to press for an early release of the fishermen. Further, Bose said, “A court previously ordered the release of 167 fishing boats that were kept under the custody of Sri Lankan government over the last three years. However, only 37 of the 167 boats were in good condition and was brought back to India.”

He expressed his concern over the fishermen, who solely relied on those boats for a livelihood. He said that either the SriLankan government or the Indian government should give adequate compensation for those fishermen and the damaged boats.